.ps1 File — PowerShell Script

PowerShell scripts are advanced automation files for the PowerShell cross-platform task automation framework developed by Microsoft. PS1 files contain commands in an object-oriented scripting language built on the .NET runtime, where commands (cmdlets) output structured objects rather than text, enabling powerful pipeline processing without text parsing. PowerShell uses a Verb-Noun naming convention (Get-Process, Set-Item, New-Object) that makes commands discoverable and consistent. The language supports variables, functions, classes, modules, error handling (try/catch), remote execution, background jobs, and access to the full .NET ecosystem. PowerShell is the primary automation tool for Windows system administration, Active Directory management, Azure cloud operations, Exchange administration, and DevOps CI/CD pipelines. PowerShell 7+ (Core) is cross-platform, running on Windows, Linux, and macOS. The execution policy system controls which scripts can run, providing a security layer against unauthorized script execution. PowerShell Gallery (PSGallery) provides community modules for extending functionality. The language's object pipeline model represents a fundamentally different approach to shell scripting compared to text-based Unix shells.