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Get-Verb

  • Reference
Module:
Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility

Gets approved PowerShell verbs.

Syntax

Get-Verb
   [[-Verb] <String[]>]
   [[-Group] <String[]>]
   [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Get-Verb function gets verbs that are approved for use in PowerShell commands.

It is recommended that PowerShell cmdlet and function names have the Verb-Noun format and include an approved verb. This practice makes command names more consistent, predictable, and easier to use.

Commands that use unapproved verbs, still run in PowerShell. However, when you import a module that includes a command with an unapproved verb in its name, the Import-Module command displays a warning message.

Note

The verb list that Get-Verb returns might not be complete. For an updated list of approved PowerShell verbs with descriptions, see Approved Verbs in the Microsoft Docs.

Examples

Example 1 - Get a list of all verbs

Get-Verb

Example 2 - Get a list of approved verbs that begin with "un"

Get-Verb un*

Verb       AliasPrefix Group     Description
----       ----------- -----     -----------
Undo       un          Common    Sets a resource to its previous state
Unlock     uk          Common    Releases a resource that was locked
Unpublish  ub          Data      Makes a resource unavailable to others
Uninstall  us          Lifecycle Removes a resource from an indicated location
Unregister ur          Lifecycle Removes the entry for a resource from a repository
Unblock    ul          Security  Removes restrictions to a resource
Unprotect  up          Security  Removes safeguards from a resource that were added to prevent it from attack or loss

Example 3 - Get all approved verbs in the Security group

Get-Verb -Group Security

Verb      AliasPrefix Group    Description
----      ----------- -----    -----------
Block     bl          Security Restricts access to a resource
Grant     gr          Security Allows access to a resource
Protect   pt          Security Safeguards a resource from attack or loss
Revoke    rk          Security Specifies an action that does not allow access to a resource
Unblock   ul          Security Removes restrictions to a resource
Unprotect up          Security Removes safeguards from a resource that were added to prevent it from attack or loss

Example 4 - Finds all commands in a module that have unapproved verbs

Get-Command -Module Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility | Where-Object Verb -NotIn (Get-Verb).Verb

CommandType     Name            Version    Source
-----------     ----            -------    ------
Cmdlet          Sort-Object     3.1.0.0    Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility
Cmdlet          Tee-Object      3.1.0.0    Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility

Parameters

-Group

Gets only the specified groups. Enter the name of a group. Wildcards are not allowed.

This parameter was introduced in PowerShell 6.0.

Type:String[]
Position:0
Default value:All verbs
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Verb

Gets only the specified verbs. Enter the name of a verb or a name pattern. Wildcards are allowed.

Type:String[]
Accepted values:Common, Communications, Data, Diagnostic, Lifecycle, Other, Security
Position:1
Default value:All groups
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:True

Inputs

None

Outputs

VerbInfo

Notes

PowerShell verbs are assigned to a group based on their most common use. The groups are designed to make the verbs easy to find and compare, not to restrict their use. You can use any approved verb for any type of command.

Each PowerShell verb is assigned to one of the following groups.

  • Common: Define generic actions that can apply to almost any cmdlet, such as Add.
  • Communications: Define actions that apply to communications, such as Connect.
  • Data: Define actions that apply to data handling, such as Backup.
  • Diagnostic: Define actions that apply to diagnostics, such as Debug.
  • Lifecycle: Define actions that apply to the lifecycle of a cmdlet, such as Complete.
  • Security: Define actions that apply to security, such as Revoke.
  • Other: Define other types of actions.

Some of the cmdlets that are installed with PowerShell, such as Tee-Object and Where-Object, use unapproved verbs. These cmdlets are historic exceptions and their verbs are classified as reserved.