Get-ChildItem

Get-ChildItem is a PowerShell cmdlet used to retrieve the child items (files and directories) in a specified directory. It allows users to navigate and manipulate the contents of directories within the PowerShell environment.

Here’s how to use Get-ChildItem:

1. Open PowerShell by searching for it in the Start menu or by pressing Win + X and selecting “Windows PowerShell” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin)”.
2. Once PowerShell is open, you can simply type Get-ChildItem followed by the path of the directory you want to list the contents of. If no path is specified, it will default to the current directory.

   Get-ChildItem C:\Users

This command will list all the files and directories within the C:\Users directory.

3. You can also use various parameters with Get-ChildItem to filter the results or retrieve specific information. Some common parameters include:

• -Path: Specifies the path of the directory to list the contents of. Get-ChildItem -Path C:\Windows
• -Filter: Specifies a filter to use when retrieving child items. For example, you can use wildcards to match specific file names. Get-ChildItem -Path C:\Windows -Filter "*.txt"
• -Recurse: Retrieves child items recursively from all subdirectories. Get-ChildItem -Path C:\Windows -Recurse
• -Include: Specifies the names of files or directories to include in the result. Get-ChildItem -Path C:\Windows -Include *.exe, *.dll
• -Exclude: Specifies the names of files or directories to exclude from the result.
  Get-ChildItem -Path C:\Windows -Exclude *.txt

3. After executing the Get-ChildItem cmdlet with the desired parameters, PowerShell will display the requested information based on the specified filters or sorting options.

Get-ChildItem is a versatile tool for navigating and managing the contents of directories in PowerShell, allowing users to perform various file system operations programmatically.