Sort-Object for ordering in PowerShell - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What is the output of this Sort-Object command?

Given this PowerShell command, what will be the output?

PowerShell

1..5 | Sort-Object -Descending

A Error: Parameter set cannot be resolved

B 1 2 3 4 5

C 5 4 3 2 1

D 5 3 1 2 4

💡 Hint

Think about what -Descending does to a list of numbers.

Sort-Object with -Descending sorts the numbers from highest to lowest, so 5 4 3 2 1.

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What does this Sort-Object command output?

What is the output of this command?

PowerShell

'apple','banana','cherry' | Sort-Object Length

A apple banana cherry

B banana cherry apple

C apple cherry banana

D cherry apple banana

💡 Hint

Sort by the length of each word from shortest to longest.

Sort-Object Length sorts strings by their length ascending: apple(5), banana(6), cherry(6). Since banana and cherry have same length, original order is preserved for them.

📝 Syntax

advanced

Which option correctly sorts objects by a property in descending order?

You have objects with a property 'Age'. Which command sorts them descending by Age?

PowerShell

$people = @(@{Name='Ann';Age=30}, @{Name='Bob';Age=25}, @{Name='Cara';Age=35})

A $people | Sort-Object -Property Age -Descending

B $people | Sort-Object Age Descending

C $people | Sort-Object -Age -Descending

D $people | Sort-Object -Property Age Desc

💡 Hint

Check the correct syntax for Sort-Object parameters.

Option A uses correct parameter names: -Property Age and -Descending switch. Others have syntax errors or invalid parameters.

🚀 Application

advanced

How to sort files by LastWriteTime descending?

You want to list files sorted by last modified date, newest first. Which command works?

PowerShell

Get-ChildItem | ???

A Sort-Object -Property LastWriteTime Desc

B Sort-Object LastWriteTime Descending

C Sort-Object -LastWriteTime -Descending

D Sort-Object -Property LastWriteTime -Descending

💡 Hint

Use the correct parameter names and switches for Sort-Object.

Only option D uses correct syntax with -Property and -Descending switch. A lacks '-' before Descending, making it invalid.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

What error does this Sort-Object command raise?

What error occurs when running this command?

PowerShell

1..5 | Sort-Object -Property NonExistentProperty

A No error, outputs original list

B PropertyNotFoundException

C SyntaxError

D NullReferenceException

💡 Hint

Think about what happens if you sort by a property that does not exist.

Sort-Object throws a PropertyNotFoundException when the property does not exist on the objects.