Skip to content

Set-PSReadLineKeyHandler.md

Latest commit

 

History

History
207 lines (149 loc) · 5.01 KB

Set-PSReadLineKeyHandler.md

File metadata and controls

207 lines (149 loc) · 5.01 KB
external help file Microsoft.PowerShell.PSReadLine2.dll-Help.xml
Locale en-US
Module Name PSReadLine
ms.date 01/18/2026
online version https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/psreadline/set-psreadlinekeyhandler?view=powershell-7.6&WT.mc_id=ps-gethelp
schema 2.0.0
title Set-PSReadLineKeyHandler

Set-PSReadLineKeyHandler

SYNOPSIS

Binds keys to user-defined or PSReadLine key handler functions.

SYNTAX

ScriptBlock

Set-PSReadLineKeyHandler [-ScriptBlock] <ScriptBlock> [-BriefDescription <String>]
 [-Description <String>] [-Chord] <String[]> [-ViMode <ViMode>] [<CommonParameters>]

Function

Set-PSReadLineKeyHandler [-Chord] <String[]> [-ViMode <ViMode>] [-Function] <String>
 [<CommonParameters>]

DESCRIPTION

The Set-PSReadLineKeyHandler cmdlet customizes the result when a key or sequence of keys is pressed. With user-defined key bindings, you can do almost anything that's possible from within a PowerShell script.

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Bind the arrow key to a function

This command binds the up arrow key to the HistorySearchBackward function. This function searches command history for command lines that start with the current contents of the command line.

Set-PSReadLineKeyHandler -Chord UpArrow -Function HistorySearchBackward

Example 2: Bind a key to a scriptblock

This example shows how a single key can be used to run a command. The command binds the key Ctrl+b to a scriptblock that clears the line, inserts the word "build", and then accepts the line.

Set-PSReadLineKeyHandler -Chord Ctrl+b -ScriptBlock {
    [Microsoft.PowerShell.PSConsoleReadLine]::RevertLine()
    [Microsoft.PowerShell.PSConsoleReadLine]::Insert('build')
    [Microsoft.PowerShell.PSConsoleReadLine]::AcceptLine()
}

PARAMETERS

-BriefDescription

A brief description of the key binding. This description is displayed by the Get-PSReadLineKeyHandler cmdlet.

Type: System.String
Parameter Sets: ScriptBlock
Aliases:

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Chord

The key or sequence of keys to be bound to a function or scriptblock. Use a single string to specify a single binding. If the binding is a sequence of keys, separate the keys by a comma. For example: Ctrl+x,Ctrl+l

Letter key references are defined using lowercase letters. If you want to define a chord that uses an uppercase letter, the chord must include the Shift key. For example, Ctrl+Shift+x and Ctrl+x create different bindings.

This parameter accepts an array of strings. Each string is a separate binding, not a sequence of keys for a single binding.

Type: System.String[]
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases: Key

Required: True
Position: 0
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Description

Specifies a more detailed description of the key binding that's visible in the output of the Get-PSReadLineKeyHandler cmdlet.

Type: System.String
Parameter Sets: ScriptBlock
Aliases: LongDescription

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Function

Specifies the name of an existing key handler provided by PSReadLine. This parameter lets you rebind existing key bindings, or bind a handler that's currently unbound.

Type: System.String
Parameter Sets: Function
Aliases:

Required: True
Position: 1
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-ScriptBlock

Specifies a scriptblock value to run when the chord is entered. PSReadLine passes one or two parameters to this scriptblock. The first parameter is a ConsoleKeyInfo object representing the key pressed. The second argument can be any object depending on the context.

Type: System.Management.Automation.ScriptBlock
Parameter Sets: ScriptBlock
Aliases:

Required: True
Position: 1
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-ViMode

Specify which vi mode the binding applies to.

Valid values are:

  • Insert
  • Command
Type: Microsoft.PowerShell.ViMode
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases:

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

CommonParameters

This cmdlet supports the common parameters: -Debug, -ErrorAction, -ErrorVariable, -InformationAction, -InformationVariable, -OutVariable, -OutBuffer, -PipelineVariable, -Verbose, -WarningAction, and -WarningVariable. For more information, see about_CommonParameters.

INPUTS

None

You can't pipe objects to this cmdlet.

OUTPUTS

None

This cmdlet returns no output.

NOTES

RELATED LINKS

Get-PSReadLineKeyHandler

Remove-PSReadLineKeyHandler

Get-PSReadLineOption

Set-PSReadLineOption