Custom objects (PSCustomObject) in PowerShell - Step-by-Step Execution

Concept Flow - Custom objects (PSCustomObject)

Start script

↓

Create PSCustomObject

↓

Add properties with values

↓

Use object (e.g., output or assign)

↓

End script

The script starts by creating a PSCustomObject, adds properties with values, then uses the object, and finally ends.

Execution Sample

PowerShell

$person = [PSCustomObject]@{
  Name = "Alice"
  Age = 30
}
$person

Creates a custom object with Name and Age properties, then outputs it.

Execution Table

Step	Action	Evaluation	Result
1	Create PSCustomObject with properties Name and Age	$person = [PSCustomObject]@{Name="Alice"; Age=30}	Object with Name='Alice', Age=30 created
2	Output $person	$person	Displays: Name : Alice Age : 30
3	End of script	No further commands	Script ends

💡 Script ends after outputting the custom object

Variable Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 1	After Step 2	Final
$person	null	PSCustomObject(Name='Alice', Age=30)	Same object	Same object

Key Moments - 2 Insights

Why do we use [PSCustomObject]@{} instead of just a hashtable?

Using [PSCustomObject]@{} creates a real object with properties, not just a hashtable. This allows easier property access and better output formatting, as shown in Step 1 and Step 2 of the execution_table.

Can we add properties after creating the PSCustomObject?

No, PSCustomObjects are fixed after creation. To add properties, you must create a new object or use other methods. This is why all properties are defined together in Step 1.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution_table, what is the value of $person after Step 1?

A Null

B A hashtable with keys Name and Age

C An object with Name='Alice' and Age=30

D An empty object

💡 Hint

Check the 'Result' column in Step 1 of the execution_table

At which step does the script output the custom object?

A Step 1

B Step 2

C Step 3

D No output in script

💡 Hint

Look at the 'Action' and 'Result' columns in the execution_table

If you add a new property after creating $person, what happens?

A An error occurs because PSCustomObject is fixed

B The object resets to empty

C The property is added successfully

D The property is ignored silently

💡 Hint

Refer to the second key_moment about adding properties after creation

Concept Snapshot

Create custom objects with [PSCustomObject]@{Property=Value; ...}
Properties are fixed at creation time.
Access properties with dot notation: $obj.Property
Outputs show properties clearly.
Useful for structured data in scripts.

Full Transcript

This script shows how to create a custom object in PowerShell using PSCustomObject. First, we create an object with properties Name and Age set to 'Alice' and 30. Then we output the object, which displays its properties clearly. The object is stored in the variable $person. PSCustomObjects are fixed after creation, so all properties must be defined together. This method is better than using a hashtable because it provides easier property access and nicer output formatting.