PowerShell is a task automation and configuration management program from Microsoft, consisting of a command-line shell and the associated scripting language. It is a cross-platform task automation solution made up of a command-line shell, a scripting language, and a configuration management framework. PowerShell is built on the .NET Framework and is capable of automating management tasks and functioning as a dedicated scripting language for both Microsoft- and non-Microsoft-based software.
PowerShell is designed to leverage the large number of APIs that already exist in Windows, Windows Management Instrumentation, .NET Framework, and other software. PowerShell cmdlets "wrap around" existing functionality to provide an administrator-friendly, more-consistent interface between administrators and a wide range of underlying functionality. PowerShell is tightly integrated into almost all of Microsoft’s products, and there are certain actions in popular products like Microsoft 365 and Server 2016 that can only be done with PowerShell.
PowerShell is commonly used for automating the management of systems and is also used to build, test, and deploy solutions, often in CI/CD environments. It is capable of automating management tasks and functioning as a dedicated scripting language for both Microsoft- and non-Microsoft-based software. PowerShell is available on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
