Parameters in PowerShell - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What is the output of this PowerShell script with parameters?

Consider this script saved as TestParams.ps1 and run with .\TestParams.ps1 -Name 'Alice' -Age 30. What will it output?

PowerShell

param(
    [string]$Name,
    [int]$Age
)

Write-Output "Name: $Name, Age: $Age"

A Name: , Age:

B Name: , Age: 30

C Name: Alice, Age: 30

D Name: Alice, Age:

💡 Hint

Look at how parameters are declared and passed in PowerShell scripts.

The script defines two parameters, Name and Age. When run with -Name 'Alice' and -Age 30, these values are assigned correctly and printed.

📝 Syntax

intermediate

Which option correctly declares a mandatory string parameter in PowerShell?

You want to declare a parameter named FilePath that is mandatory and must be a string. Which declaration is correct?

A param([string]$FilePath Mandatory=$true)

B param([Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][string]$FilePath)

C param([Mandatory] [string]$FilePath)

D param([string]$FilePath -Mandatory)

💡 Hint

Look for the correct syntax of the Parameter attribute.

Option B uses the correct syntax with the Parameter attribute and Mandatory property set to $true.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this script fail when calling with no arguments?

Given this script snippet, what error occurs when run without arguments? param( [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)] [string]$User ) Write-Output "User is $User"

PowerShell

param(
    [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)]
    [string]$User
)

Write-Output "User is $User"

A The script throws an error: Missing an argument for the mandatory parameter 'User'.

B The script throws a syntax error due to missing default value.

C The script outputs: User is

D The script runs but outputs 'User is $User' literally.

💡 Hint

Think about what happens when a mandatory parameter is not provided.

Mandatory parameters require a value. If none is given, PowerShell throws an error indicating the missing argument.

🚀 Application

advanced

What is the output when using a default parameter value?

Consider this script run as .\Script.ps1 with no arguments. What will it output? param( [string]$City = "Seattle" ) Write-Output "City is $City"

PowerShell

param(
    [string]$City = "Seattle"
)

Write-Output "City is $City"

A Error: Parameter 'City' requires a value.

B City is

C City is $City

D City is Seattle

💡 Hint

Check how default values work for parameters.

If no argument is passed, the parameter uses its default value, here 'Seattle'.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

How many parameters does this script accept and what are their types?

Analyze this parameter block and answer how many parameters are declared and their types: param( [string]$Name, [int]$Count = 5, [switch]$Verbose ) Write-Output "$Name, $Count, $Verbose"

PowerShell

param(
    [string]$Name,
    [int]$Count = 5,
    [switch]$Verbose
)

Write-Output "$Name, $Count, $Verbose"

A Three parameters: Name (string), Count (int with default 5), Verbose (switch)

B Two parameters: Name (string), Count (int), Verbose is not a parameter

C Three parameters: Name (string), Count (string), Verbose (boolean)

D One parameter: Name (string), Count and Verbose are variables

💡 Hint

Look carefully at the param block and types.

The script declares three parameters: Name as string, Count as int with default 5, and Verbose as a switch (boolean flag).