Write-Host

Syntax

Write-Host
     [[-Object] <Object>]
     [-NoNewline]
     [-Separator <Object>]
     [-ForegroundColor <ConsoleColor>]
     [-BackgroundColor <ConsoleColor>]
     [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Write-Host cmdlet's primary purpose is to produce for-(host)-display-only output, such as printing colored text like when prompting the user for input in conjunction with Read-Host. Write-Host uses the ToString() method to write the output. By contrast, to output data to the pipeline, use Write-Output or implicit output.

You can specify the color of text by using the ForegroundColor parameter, and you can specify the background color by using the BackgroundColor parameter. The Separator parameter lets you specify a string to use to separate displayed objects. The particular result depends on the program that is hosting PowerShell.

Examples

Example 1: Write to the console without adding a new line

Write-Host "no newline test " -NoNewline
Write-Host "second string"

no newline test second string

This command displays the string 'no newline test' with the NoNewline parameter.

A second string is written, but it ends up on the same line as the first due to the absence of a newline separating the strings.

Example 2: Write to the console and include a separator

Write-Host (2,4,6,8,10,12) -Separator ", +2= "

2, +2= 4, +2= 6, +2= 8, +2= 10, +2= 12

This command displays the even numbers from two through twelve. The Separator parameter is used to add the string , +2= (comma, space, +, 2, =, space).

Example 3: Write with different text and background colors

Write-Host (2,4,6,8,10,12) -Separator ", -> " -ForegroundColor DarkGreen -BackgroundColor White

2, -> 4, -> 6, -> 8, -> 10, -> 12

This command displays the even numbers from two through twelve. It uses the ForegroundColor parameter to output dark green text and the BackgroundColor parameter to display a white background.

Example 4: Write with different text and background colors

Write-Host "Red on white text." -ForegroundColor red -BackgroundColor white

Red on white text.

This command displays the string "Red on white text." The text is red, as defined by the ForegroundColor parameter. The background is white, as defined by the BackgroundColor parameter.

Example 5: Suppress output from Write-Host

# The following two statements can be used to effectively suppress output from Write-Host
Write-Host "I won't print" -InformationAction Ignore
Write-Host "I won't print" 6>$null

These commands effectively suppress output of the Write-Host cmdlet. The first one uses the InformationAction parameter with the Ignore Value to suppress output to the information stream. The second example redirects the information stream of the command to the $null variable and thereby suppresses it.

Parameters

-BackgroundColor

-ForegroundColor

-NoNewline

-Object

-Separator

Inputs

Object

You can pipe objects to be written to the host.

Outputs

None

Write-Host sends the objects to the host. It does not return any objects. However, the host displays the objects that Write-Host sends to it.

Notes

• When writing a collection to the host, elements of the collection are printed on the same line separated by a single space. This can be overridden with the Separator parameter.

• Non-primitive data types such as objects with properties can cause unexpected results and not provide meaningful output. For example, Write-Host @{a = 1; b = 2} will print System.Collections.DictionaryEntry System.Collections.DictionaryEntry to the host.

Related Links

• Clear-Host
• Out-Host
• Write-Debug
• Write-Error
• Write-Output
• Write-Progress
• Write-Verbose
• Write-Warning