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Clear-Content

  • Reference
Module:
Microsoft.PowerShell.Management

Deletes the contents of an item, but does not delete the item.

Syntax

Clear-Content
     [-Path] <String[]>
     [-Filter <String>]
     [-Include <String[]>]
     [-Exclude <String[]>]
     [-Force]
     [-Credential <PSCredential>]
     [-WhatIf]
     [-Confirm]
     [-Stream <String>]
     [<CommonParameters>]
Clear-Content
     -LiteralPath <String[]>
     [-Filter <String>]
     [-Include <String[]>]
     [-Exclude <String[]>]
     [-Force]
     [-Credential <PSCredential>]
     [-WhatIf]
     [-Confirm]
     [-Stream <String>]
     [<CommonParameters>]
Clear-Content
     [-Path] <String[]>
     [-Filter <String>]
     [-Include <String[]>]
     [-Exclude <String[]>]
     [-Force]
     [-Credential <PSCredential>]
     [-WhatIf]
     [-Confirm]
     [<CommonParameters>]
Clear-Content
     -LiteralPath <String[]>
     [-Filter <String>]
     [-Include <String[]>]
     [-Exclude <String[]>]
     [-Force]
     [-Credential <PSCredential>]
     [-WhatIf]
     [-Confirm]
     [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Clear-Content cmdlet deletes the contents of an item, such as deleting the text from a file, but it does not delete the item. As a result, the item exists, but it is empty. Clear-Content is similar to Clear-Item, but it works on items with contents, instead of items with values.

Examples

Example 1: Delete all content from a directory

Clear-Content "..\SmpUsers\*\init.txt"

This command deletes all of the content from the init.txt files in all subdirectories of the SmpUsers directory. The files are not deleted, but they are empty.

Example 2: Delete content of all files with a wildcard

Clear-Content -Path "*" -Filter "*.log" -Force

This command deletes the contents of all files in the current directory with the .log file name extension, including files with the read-only attribute. The asterisk (*) in the path represents all items in the current directory. The Force parameter makes the command effective on read-only files. Using a filter to restrict the command to files with the .log file name extension instead of specifying *.log in the path makes the operation faster.

Example 3: Clear all data from a stream

This example shows how the Clear-Content cmdlet clears the content from an alternate data stream while leaving the stream intact.

The first command uses the Get-Content cmdlet to get the content of the Zone.Identifier stream in the Copy-Script.ps1 file, which was downloaded from the internet.

The second command uses the Clear-Content cmdlet to clear the content.

The third command repeats the first command. It verifies that the content is cleared, but the stream remains. If the stream were deleted, the command would generate an error.

You can use a method like this one to clear the content of an alternate data stream. However, it is not the recommended way to eliminate security checks that block files that are downloaded from the Internet. If you verify that a downloaded file is safe, use the Unblock-File cmdlet.

Get-Content C:\Test\Copy-Script.ps1 -Stream Zone.Identifier

[ZoneTransfer]
ZoneId=3

Clear-Content C:\Test\Copy-Script.ps1 -Stream Zone.Identifier
Get-Content C:\Test\Copy-Script.ps1 -Stream Zone.Identifier

Parameters

-Confirm

Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:cf
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Credential

Note

This parameter is not supported by any providers installed with PowerShell. To impersonate another user, or elevate your credentials when running this cmdlet, use Invoke-Command.

Type:PSCredential
Position:Named
Default value:Current user
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Exclude

Specifies, as a string array, strings that this cmdlet omits from the path to the content. The value of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. Enter a path element or pattern, such as *.txt. Wildcards are permitted.

Type:String[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:True

-Filter

Specifies a filter in the provider's format or language. The value of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. The syntax of the filter, including the use of wildcards, depends on the provider. Filters are more efficient than other parameters, because the provider applies them when retrieving the objects, rather than having PowerShell filter the objects after they are retrieved.

Type:String
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:True

-Force

Forces the command to run without asking for user confirmation.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Include

Specifies, as a string array, content that this cmdlet clears. The value of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. Enter a path element or pattern, such as *.txt. Wildcards are permitted.

Type:String[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:True

-LiteralPath

Specifies the paths to the items from which content is deleted. Unlike the Path parameter, the value of LiteralPath is used exactly as it is typed. No characters are interpreted as wildcards. If the path includes escape characters, enclose it in single quotation marks ('). Single quotation marks tell having PowerShell not to interpret any characters as escape sequences.

Type:String[]
Aliases:PSPath, LP
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Path

Specifies the paths to the items from which content is deleted. Wildcards are permitted. The paths must be paths to items, not to containers. For example, you must specify a path to one or more files, not a path to a directory. Wildcards are permitted. This parameter is required, but the parameter name (Path) is optional.

Type:String[]
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:True

-Stream

This is a dynamic parameter made available by the FileSystem provider. This parameter is only available on Windows.

Specifies an alternative data stream for content. If the stream does not exist, this cmdlet creates it. Wildcard characters are not supported.

You can use the Clear-Content cmdlet to change the content of any alternate data stream, such as Zone.Identifier. However, we do not recommend this as a way to eliminate security checks that block files that are downloaded from the internet. If you verify that a downloaded file is safe, use the Unblock-File cmdlet.

This parameter was introduced in PowerShell 3.0. As of PowerShell 7.2, Clear-Content can clear the content of alternative data streams from directories as well as files.

For more information, see about_FileSystem_Provider.

Type:String
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-WhatIf

Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:wi
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

Inputs

None

You can't pipe objects to this cmdlet.

Outputs

None

This cmdlet returns no output.

Notes

PowerShell includes the following aliases for Clear-Content:

  • All platforms:
    • clc

You can use Clear-Content with the PowerShell FileSystem provider and with other providers that manipulate content. To clear items that are not considered to be content, such as items managed by the PowerShell Certificate or Registry providers, use Clear-Item.

The Clear-Content cmdlet is designed to work with the data exposed by any provider. To list the providers available in your session, type Get-PsProvider. For more information, see about_Providers.