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Switch statement in PowerShell : Efficient Scripting in PowerShell

   December 22, 2023
Powershell @ Freshers.in

This guide aims to elucidate the usage of the switch statement in PowerShell, complete with examples for practical application.

Understanding the Switch Statement

The switch statement in PowerShell evaluates a single expression and compares it against multiple possible conditions or cases. It’s an ideal choice for scenarios with numerous distinct cases to consider.

Basic Syntax of the Switch Statement

The fundamental structure of a switch statement in PowerShell is as follows:

switch (expression) {
    case1 { action1 }
    case2 { action2 }
    ...
    default { defaultAction }
}

Example: Basic Switch Statement

$color = 'Blue'
switch ($color) {
    'Red' { Write-Host 'The color is Red' }
    'Green' { Write-Host 'The color is Green' }
    'Blue' { Write-Host 'The color is Blue' }
    default { Write-Host 'Color not recognized' }
}

Advanced Features of the Switch Statement

Multiple Values per Case

You can match multiple values in a single case.

Example: Multiple Values

$day = 'Saturday'
switch ($day) {
    { $_ -in 'Saturday', 'Sunday' } { Write-Host 'Weekend' }
    default { Write-Host 'Weekday' }
}

Case-Sensitivity and Wildcards

By default, the switch is case-insensitive. Use -CaseSensitive for case-sensitive matching. Wildcards are also supported.

Example: Wildcards and Case Sensitivity

$name = 'FreshersGPT'
switch -CaseSensitive ($name) {
    'Freshers*' { Write-Host 'Name starts with Freshers' }
    'Freshers*' { Write-Host 'Name starts with Freshers' }
    default { Write-Host 'No match' }
}

Best Practices

  • Use the switch statement for scenarios with many distinct cases.
  • Utilize script blocks for complex condition checks.
  • Be mindful of case sensitivity according to your script’s requirements.
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