Clear-Variable
Deletes the value of a variable.
Syntax
Clear-Variable
[-Name] <String[]>
[-Include <String[]>]
[-Exclude <String[]>]
[-Force]
[-PassThru]
[-Scope <String>]
[-WhatIf]
[-Confirm]
[<CommonParameters>]
Description
The Clear-Variable
cmdlet deletes the data stored in a variable, but it does not delete the
variable. As a result, the value of the variable is NULL (empty). If the variable has a specified
data or object type, this cmdlet preserves the type of the object stored in the variable.
Examples
Example 1: Remove the value of global variables that begin with a search string
Clear-Variable my* -Scope Global
This command removes the value of global variables that have names that begin with my.
Example 2: Clear a variable in a child scope but not the parent scope
$a=3
&{ Clear-Variable a }
$a
3
These commands demonstrate that clearing a variable in a child scope does not clear the value in the
parent scope. The first command sets the value of the variable $a
to 3. The second command uses
the invoke operator (&
) to run the Clear-Variable
command in a new scope. The variable is
cleared in the child scope (although it did not exist), but it is not cleared in the local scope.
The third command, which gets the value of $a
, shows that the value 3 is unaffected.
Example 3: Delete the value of the specified variable
Clear-Variable -Name "Processes"
This command deletes the value of the variable named Processes. After the cmdlet completes the operation, the variable named Processes still exists, but the value is null.
Parameters
-Confirm
Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.
Type: | SwitchParameter |
Aliases: | cf |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | False |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-Exclude
Specifies an array of items that this cmdlet omits in the operation. The value of this parameter qualifies the Name parameter. Enter a name element or pattern, such as "s*". Wildcards are permitted.
Type: | String[] |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | None |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | True |
-Force
Allows the cmdlet to clear a variable even if it is read-only. Even using the Force parameter, the cmdlet cannot clear constants.
Type: | SwitchParameter |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | None |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-Include
Specifies an array of items that this cmdlet includes in the operation. The value of this parameter qualifies the Name parameter. Enter a name element or pattern, such as "s*". Wildcards are permitted.
Type: | String[] |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | None |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | True |
-Name
Specifies the name of the variable to be cleared. Wildcards are permitted. This parameter is required, but the parameter name Name is optional.
Type: | String[] |
Position: | 0 |
Default value: | None |
Required: | True |
Accept pipeline input: | True |
Accept wildcard characters: | True |
-PassThru
Returns an object representing the item with which you are working. By default, this cmdlet does not generate any output.
Type: | SwitchParameter |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | None |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-Scope
Specifies the scope in which this alias is valid.
The acceptable values for this parameter are:
Global
Local
Script
You can also use a number relative to the current scope (0 through the number of scopes, where 0 is the current scope and 1 is its parent). Local is the default. For more information, see about_Scopes.
Type: | String |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | None |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-WhatIf
Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.
Type: | SwitchParameter |
Aliases: | wi |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | False |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
Inputs
None
You can't pipe objects to this cmdlet.
Outputs
None
By default, this cmdlet returns no output.
When you use the PassThru parameter, this cmdlet returns a PSVariable object representing the cleared variable.
Notes
Windows PowerShell includes the following aliases for Clear-Variable
:
clv
To delete a variable, along with its value, use
Remove-Variable
orRemove-Item
.This cmdlet does not delete the values of variables that are set as constants or owned by the system, even if you use the Force parameter.
If the variable that you are clearing does not exist, the cmdlet has no effect. It does not create a variable with a null value.
Related Links
PowerShell