Comment-based help
Comment-based help is PowerShell documentation embedded in specially formatted comments associated with a script, function, or command.
Practical Automation with PowerShell: Effective scripting from the console to the cloud
Comment-based help is PowerShell documentation embedded in specially formatted comments associated with a script or function.
- How it is used
- Documents reusable PowerShell scripts and functions so other operators can understand and use them safely.
- How deep it goes
- Explains help-section structure, parameter guidance, and concrete examples, but does not descend into help-command rendering internals.
- Examples
- Uses a New-VmFromIso help template and a Set-VmSettings example with explicit ISO and virtual-machine values.
- What you can do after
- Apply it via VS Code by typing ##, then complete the generated help template for a script or function.
Learn PowerShell Scripting in a Month of Lunches, Second Edition: Write and organize scripts and tools
Comment-based help is a documentation convention in which specially formatted source-code comments provide help content for a PowerShell command or script.
- How it is used
- Documents PowerShell scripts and functions so users can understand command purpose, parameters, examples, and operational requirements.
- How deep it goes
- Explains comment placement, formatting, standard sections, advanced keywords, whitespace, and external-help trade-offs without detailing PowerShell’s complete help parser.
- Examples
- Uses Get-MachineInfo and Set-TMServiceLogon examples with parameter documentation, remote-service behavior, input types, notes, and links.
- What you can do after
- Build it from scratch by adding readable, structured help comments to a PowerShell function or script.
Related concepts
- shell scriptpart of · Bash is a Unix command-line shell and scripting language for executing commands interactively and through scripts.
- commentuses · A comment is text or markup designated by a format's syntax as an annotation or non-content rather than ordinary executable or data content.
- Get-Helpused by · Get-Help is a PowerShell cmdlet that displays documentation and help topics for commands and other PowerShell elements.
- help filecontrasts with · A PowerShell help file is documentation describing a command, feature, or concept, including its syntax, parameters, behavior, or usage.
- functionpart of · A function is a callable program unit that performs an operation, may accept inputs, and can produce a result or side effect.
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