How to pass arguments to PowerShell script

Pass arguments by unnamed parameters

You can just pass any no of values into script with separated by space, within a script you can refer unnamed arguments using the $args array and referring to the position (first, second..) of each argument.

#UnnamedArgs.ps1
#Usage:PS C:Scripts> .UnnamedArgs.ps1 arg1 arg2
"Your 1st argument is: " + $Args[0]
"Your 2nd argument is: " + $Args[1]

Pass arguments by named parameters

In unnamed parameters method, you cannot have more control with inputs and powershel script itself look unclear to understand the process. To overcome this, you can pass arguments by named parameter. To get arguments by name, we need to use param statement.

#NamedArgs.ps1
#Usage:PS C:Scripts> .NamedArgs.ps1 -Name "Morgan" -City "Arlington"
param($Name, $City)
  "User name: " + $Name
  "City: " + $City

You can set default value for any argument, this default value will be taken as actual value if user doesn’t pass the value for this argument.

#PassArgs.ps1
param($Name, $City="Los Angeles")
  "User name: " + $Name
  "City: " + $City

You can set an argument as Mandatory parameter to force user to enter the specific argument to run script.

#MandatoryArgs.ps1
param( [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)] $Name, $City="Los Angeles" )
 "User name: " + $Name
 "City: " + $City

Ask dynamic arguments within Powershell script

You can force user to enter input values dynamically from inside part of Powershell script using Read-Host cmdlet with respect to your dynamic need.

#DynamicArgs.ps1
param( $Name)
If ($Name -eq "Morgan") {
    $mobileno = Read-Host "Enter your mobile no"
}
else{
    $email = Read-Host "Enter your email"
}

Ask password from user in Powershell script

You can force user to enter password from inside part of Powershell script using Read-Host cmdlet, and you can mask the password string by setting a parameter -asSecureString in Read-Host cmdlet.

#PasswordArgs.ps1
param( $Name)
"Hi, " + $Name
$password = Read-Host "Enter Password" -asSecureString
$PwdPointer = [Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::SecureStringToBSTR($password)
# Get the plain text version of the password.
$PlainTextPassword = [Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::PtrToStringAuto($PwdPointer)
# Free the pointer.
[Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::ZeroFreeBSTR($PwdPointer)
"Your have entered this password: " + $PlainTextPassword