The Get-Unique cmdlet is a powerful tool in Windows PowerShell that enables users to quickly and easily extract unique values from a set of data. It can be used to filter out duplicate values from a list, or to compare two sets of data and extract only the unique values from each set. In this article, we’ll explore the syntax, parameters, inputs, outputs, examples, and tips for using the Get-Unique cmdlet.
Syntax
The syntax for the Get-Unique cmdlet is as follows:
Get-Unique [-InputObject] <Object[]> [-Property <String[]>] [-Unique] [-CaseSensitive] [-AsString] [-Exclude <Object[]>] [-Include <Object[]>] [-InputObject <PSObject>] [-LiteralPath <String[]>] [-Path <String[]>] [-Culture <String>] [-Encoding <String>] [-ExcludeObject <PSObject>] [-Filter <String>] [-IncludeObject <PSObject>] [-TotalCount <Int32>] [-Force] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]
Parameters
The Get-Unique cmdlet has several parameters that can be used to customize its output. These parameters are listed in the table below:
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| -InputObject | The objects to be compared or filtered. |
| -Property | The property of the objects to be compared or filtered. |
| -Unique | Specifies that only unique values should be returned. |
| -CaseSensitive | Specifies that the comparison should be case-sensitive. |
| -AsString | Specifies that the output should be returned as a string. |
| -Exclude | Specifies the objects to be excluded from the comparison or filtering. |
| -Include | Specifies the objects to be included in the comparison or filtering. |
| -InputObject | Specifies the objects to be compared or filtered. |
| -LiteralPath | Specifies the path to the file or folder to be compared or filtered. |
| -Path | Specifies the path to the file or folder to be compared or filtered. |
| -Culture | Specifies the culture to be used for comparison or filtering. |
| -Encoding | Specifies the encoding to be used for comparison or filtering. |
| -ExcludeObject | Specifies the objects to be excluded from the comparison or filtering. |
| -Filter | Specifies the filter to be used for comparison or filtering. |
| -IncludeObject | Specifies the objects to be included in the comparison or filtering. |
| -TotalCount | Specifies the total number of objects to be compared or filtered. |
| -Force | Specifies that the cmdlet should continue even if errors occur. |
| -WhatIf | Specifies that the cmdlet should simulate its actions without actually performing them. |
| -Confirm | Specifies that the cmdlet should prompt the user for confirmation before performing its actions. |
Inputs
The Get-Unique cmdlet accepts the following inputs:
- Objects
- Property
- Exclude
- Include
- InputObject
- LiteralPath
- Path
- Culture
- Encoding
- ExcludeObject
- Filter
- IncludeObject
- TotalCount
Outputs
The Get-Unique cmdlet produces the following outputs:
- Objects
- Strings
Examples
The following examples demonstrate how to use the Get-Unique cmdlet:
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To filter out duplicate values from a list of objects, use the following command:
Get-Unique -InputObject <Object[]> [-Property <String[]>] [-Unique] [-CaseSensitive] [-AsString] [-Exclude <Object[]>] [-Include <Object[]>] [-InputObject <PSObject>] [-LiteralPath <String[]>] [-Path <String[]>] [-Culture <String>] [-Encoding <String>] [-ExcludeObject <PSObject>] [-Filter <String>] [-IncludeObject <PSObject>] [-TotalCount <Int32>] [-Force] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]
-
To compare two sets of data and extract only the unique values from each set, use the following command:
Get-Unique -InputObject <Object[]> [-Property <String[]>] [-Unique] [-CaseSensitive] [-AsString] [-Exclude <Object[]>] [-Include <Object[]>] [-InputObject <PSObject>] [-LiteralPath <String[]>] [-Path <String[]>] [-Culture <String>] [-Encoding <String>] [-ExcludeObject <PSObject>] [-Filter <String>] [-IncludeObject <PSObject>] [-TotalCount <Int32>] [-Force] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm]
FAQ
How do I get-unique values in PowerShell?
To obtain unique values in PowerShell, use the Get-Unique cmdlet. This command compares a sorted list’s items, removing duplicates and displaying only one instance of each item. For accurate results, ensure the list is sorted, as the cmdlet is case-sensitive and considers strings that only differ in casing to be unique. Optimize your PowerShell usage by utilizing the Get-Unique cmdlet.
How do I get-unique values from an array in PowerShell?
To get unique values from an array in PowerShell, you can use the combination of Get-Unique and Sort-Object. Simply create an array with duplicate values, sort it using Sort-Object, and then apply Get-Unique to remove any duplicate values from the array. This will give you the unique values in the PowerShell array.
How do I remove duplicates in PowerShell?
To remove duplicates in PowerShell, there are various methods you can use. You can employ cmdlets such as Select-Object, Sort-Object, Get-Unique, or Group-Object. These cmdlets allow you to easily eliminate duplicate values from an array. So, removing duplicates in PowerShell is a common task that can be accomplished seamlessly with the right cmdlet.
How to use get-command in PowerShell?
To use Get-Command in PowerShell, you can leverage the wildcard character (*) to narrow down your search. For example, type “Get-Command Start-” to get a list of cmdlets starting with “Start,” or “Get-Command *-Process” for cmdlets containing “Process”. This helps you find the right cmdlets when starting a process.