Auto Publish – main to live - 2026-04-08 22:00 UTC

reference/5.1/CimCmdlets/New-CimSession.md

@@ -331,8 +331,8 @@ By default, the `New-CimSession` cmdlet establishes a connection with a remote W
 endpoint for two reasons: to verify that the remote server is listening on the port number that is
 specified using the **Port** parameter, and to verify the specified account credentials. The
 verification is accomplished using a standard WS-Identity operation. You can add the
-**SkipTestConnection** switch parameter if the remote WS-Management endpoint cannot use WS-Identify,
-or to reduce some data transmission time.
+**SkipTestConnection** `[switch]` parameter if the remote WS-Management endpoint cannot use
+WS-Identify, or to reduce some data transmission time.
 
 ```yaml
 Type: System.Management.Automation.SwitchParameter

reference/5.1/Microsoft.PowerShell.Core/About/about_Command_Syntax.md

@@ -198,19 +198,18 @@ The syntax diagrams use the following symbols:
 - Parameters with no values
 
   Some parameters don't accept input, so they don't have a parameter value.
-  Parameters without values are _switch parameters_. Switch parameters are used
-  like boolean values. They default to `$false`. When you use a switch
-  parameter, the value is set to `$true`.
+  Parameters without values are _`[switch]` parameters_. `[switch]` parameters
+  are used like boolean values. They default to `$false`. When you use a
+  `[switch]` parameter, the value is set to `$true`.
 
-  For example, the **ListImported** parameter of `Get-Command` is a switch
-  parameter. When you use the **ListImported** parameter, the cmdlet return
+  For example, the **ListImported** parameter of `Get-Command` is a `[switch]`
+  parameter. When you use the **ListImported** parameter, the cmdlet returns
   only commands that were imported from modules in the current session.
 
   ```Syntax
   Get-Command [-ListImported]
   ```
 
-<!-- So what are these `[    ]`? - square brackets, duh! -->
 - Brackets `[  ]` around parameters indicate optional items. A parameter and
   its value can be optional. For example, the **CommandType** parameter of
   `Get-Command` and its value are enclosed in brackets because they're both

reference/5.1/Microsoft.PowerShell.Core/About/about_Functions.md

@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ For more information about the standard PowerShell verbs, see
 ## Functions with parameters
 
 You can use parameters with functions, including named parameters, positional
-parameters, switch parameters, and dynamic parameters. For more information
+parameters, `[switch]` parameters, and dynamic parameters. For more information
 about dynamic parameters in functions, see
 [about_Functions_Advanced_Parameters][09].
 
@@ -379,13 +379,12 @@ Get-Extension myTextFile
 myTextFile.txt
 ```
 
-### Switch parameters
+### `[switch]` parameters
 
 A switch is a parameter that doesn't require a value. Instead, you type the
-function name followed by the name of the switch parameter.
+function name followed by the name of the `[switch]` parameter.
 
-To define a switch parameter, specify the type `[switch]` before the parameter
-name, as shown in the following example:
+The following example shows how you define a `[switch]` parameter:
 
 ```powershell
 function Switch-Item {
@@ -395,8 +394,9 @@ function Switch-Item {
 }
 ```
 
-When you type the `On` switch parameter after the function name, the function
-displays `Switch on`. Without the switch parameter, it displays `Switch off`.
+When you type the `On` `[switch]` parameter after the function name, the
+function displays `Switch on`. Without the `[switch]` parameter, it displays
+`Switch off`.
 
 ```powershell
 Switch-Item -On

reference/5.1/Microsoft.PowerShell.Core/About/about_Functions_Advanced_Parameters.md

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 description: Explains how to add parameters to advanced functions.
 Locale: en-US
-ms.date: 03/10/2026
+ms.date: 04/08/2026
 online version: https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_functions_advanced_parameters?view=powershell-5.1&WT.mc_id=ps-gethelp
 schema: 2.0.0
 title: about_Functions_Advanced_Parameters
@@ -178,68 +178,68 @@ param(
 )
 ```
 
-## Switch parameters
+## `[switch]` parameters
 
-Switch parameters are parameters that take no parameter value. Instead, they
-convey a Boolean true-or-false value through their presence or absence, so that
-when a switch parameter is present it has a **true** value and when absent it
-has a **false** value.
+`[switch]` parameters are parameters that take no parameter value. Instead,
+they convey a Boolean true-or-false value through their presence or absence, so
+that when a `[switch]` parameter is present it has a **true** value and when
+absent it has a **false** value.
 
-For example, the **Recurse** parameter of `Get-ChildItem` is a switch
+For example, the **Recurse** parameter of `Get-ChildItem` is a `[switch]`
 parameter.
 
-To create a switch parameter in a function, specify the `[switch]` type in the
-parameter definition. The following example shows the definition of a switch
-parameter that could be used to provide an option to output data as a byte
-array:
+The following example shows the definition of a `[switch]` parameter that could
+be used to provide an option to output data as a byte array:
 
 ```powershell
 param([switch]$AsByteArray)
 ```
 
-Switch parameters are easy to use and are preferred over Boolean parameters
+`[switch]` parameters are easy to use and are preferred over Boolean parameters
 that have a less natural syntax for PowerShell.
 
-To use a switch parameter, include the parameter in the command. For example:
+To use a `[switch]` parameter, include the parameter in the command. For
+example:
 
 `-IncludeAll`
 
 To use a Boolean parameter, you must provide the parameter and a Boolean value.
 
 `-IncludeAll $true`
 
-When creating switch parameters, choose the parameter name carefully. Be sure
-that the parameter name communicates the effect of the parameter to the user.
-Avoid ambiguous terms, such as **Filter** or **Maximum** that might imply a
-value is required.
+When creating `[switch]` parameters, choose the parameter name carefully. Be
+sure that the parameter name communicates the effect of the parameter to the
+user. Avoid ambiguous terms, such as **Filter** or **Maximum** that might imply
+a value is required.
 
-### Switch parameter design considerations
+### `[switch]` parameter design considerations
 
-- Don't set a default value for a switch parameter. Switch parameter always
-  default to false.
-- Don't make switch parameters positional. By default, switch parameters are
-  excluded from positional parameters. You _can_ override that in the
-  **Parameter** attribute, but it can confuse users.
-- Design switch parameters so that using parameter changes the default behavior
+- Don't set a default value for a `[switch]` parameter. `[switch]` parameters
+  always default to false.
+- Don't make `[switch]` parameters positional. By default, `[switch]`
+  parameters are excluded from positional parameters. You _can_ override that
+  in the **Parameter** attribute, but it can confuse users.
+- Design `[switch]` parameters so that using them changes the default behavior
   of the command to a less common or more complicated mode. The simplest
   behavior of a command should be the default behavior that doesn't require the
-  use of switch parameters.
-- Don't make switch parameters mandatory. The only case where it's helpful to
-  make a switch parameter mandatory is when it's needed to differentiate a
-  parameter set.
-- Use the switch parameter variable directly in a conditional expression. The
-  `SwitchParameter` type implicitly converts to Boolean. For example:
+  use of `[switch]` parameters.
+- Don't make `[switch]` parameters mandatory. The only case where it's helpful
+  to make a `[switch]` parameter mandatory is when it's needed to differentiate
+  a parameter set.
+- Use the `[switch]` parameter variable directly in a conditional expression.
+  The `SwitchParameter` type implicitly converts to Boolean. For example:
 
   ```powershell
   if ($MySwitch) { ... }
   ```
 
-- Always base the behavior controlled by the switch on the value of the switch,
-  not the presence of the parameter. There are several ways to test for the
-  presence of a switch parameters:
+- Always base the behavior controlled by the `[switch]` parameter on the
+  _value_ of the parameter, not its _presence_. There are several ways to test
+  for the presence of a `[switch]` parameters:
 
-  - `$PSBoundParameters` contains the switch parameter name as a key
-  - `$MyInvocation.BoundParameters` contains the switch parameter name as a key
+  - `$PSBoundParameters` contains the `[switch]` parameter name as a key
+  - `$MyInvocation.BoundParameters` contains the `[switch]` parameter name as a
+    key
   - `$PSCmdlet.ParameterSetName` when the switch defines a unique parameter set
 
   For example, it's possible to provide an explicit value for the switch using
@@ -773,7 +773,7 @@ Use the **System.Obsolete** attribute to mark parameters that are no longer
 supported. This can be useful when you want to remove a parameter from a
 function but you don't want to break existing scripts that use the function.
 
-For example, consider a function that has a **NoTypeInformation** switch
+For example, consider a function that has a **NoTypeInformation** `[switch]`
 parameter that controls whether type information is included in the output. You
 want to make that behavior the default and remove the parameter from the
 function. However, you don't want to break existing scripts that use the
@@ -783,7 +783,7 @@ explains the change.
 ```powershell
 param(
     [System.Obsolete("The NoTypeInformation parameter is obsolete.")]
-    [SwitchParameter]$NoTypeInformation
+    [switch]$NoTypeInformation
 )
 ```
 

reference/5.1/Microsoft.PowerShell.Core/About/about_Parameters_Default_Values.md

@@ -104,8 +104,8 @@ $PSDefaultParameterValues = @{
 ```
 
 The cmdlet and parameter names can contain wildcard characters. Use `$true` and
-`$false` to set values for switch parameters, such as **Verbose**. This example
-sets the common parameter **Verbose** to `$true` for all commands.
+`$false` to set values for `[switch]` parameters, such as **Verbose**. This
+example sets the common parameter **Verbose** to `$true` for all commands.
 
 ```powershell
 $PSDefaultParameterValues = @{'*:Verbose'=$true}
@@ -162,9 +162,9 @@ You can use a scriptblock to specify different default values for a parameter
 under different conditions. PowerShell evaluates the scriptblock and uses the
 result as the default parameter value.
 
-The `Format-Table:AutoSize` key sets that switch parameter to a default value
-of `$true` The `if` statement contains a condition that the `$Host.Name` must
-be `ConsoleHost`.
+The `Format-Table:AutoSize` key sets that `[switch]` parameter to a default
+value of `$true`. The `if` statement contains a condition that the `$Host.Name`
+must be `ConsoleHost`.
 
 ```powershell
 $PSDefaultParameterValues = @{

reference/5.1/Microsoft.PowerShell.Core/About/about_Requires.md

@@ -211,11 +211,11 @@ For example:
 
 #### -RunAsAdministrator
 
-When this switch parameter is added to your `#Requires` statement, it specifies
-that the PowerShell session in which you're running the script must be started
-with elevated user rights. The **RunAsAdministrator** parameter is ignored on a
-non-Windows operating system. The **RunAsAdministrator** parameter was
-introduced in PowerShell 4.0.
+When this `[switch]` parameter is added to your `#Requires` statement, it
+specifies that the PowerShell session in which you're running the script must
+be started with elevated user rights. The **RunAsAdministrator** parameter is
+ignored on a non-Windows operating system. The **RunAsAdministrator** parameter
+was introduced in PowerShell 4.0.
 
 For example:
 

reference/5.1/Microsoft.PowerShell.Core/About/about_Splatting.md

@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ command so you don't pass more than one value for each parameter.
 ## Splatting with hash tables
 
 Use a hash table to splat parameter name and value pairs. You can use this
-format for all parameter types, including positional and switch parameters.
+format for all parameter types, including positional and `[switch]` parameters.
 Positional parameters must be assigned by name.
 
 The following examples compare two `Copy-Item` commands that copy the Test.txt
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ table of parameter-name and parameter-value pairs and stores it in the
 variable in a command with splatting. The At symbol (`@HashArguments`) replaces
 the dollar sign (`$HashArguments`) in the command.
 
-To provide a value for the **WhatIf** switch parameter, use `$true` or
+To provide a value for the **WhatIf** `[switch]` parameter, use `$true` or
 `$false`.
 
 ```powershell

reference/5.1/Microsoft.PowerShell.Core/Disable-PSRemoting.md

@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ A loopback connection is created when the following conditions are met:
 - The computer name to connect to is 'localhost'.
 - No credentials are passed in. Current logged in user (implicit credentials) is used for the
   connection.
-- The **EnableNetworkAccess** switch parameter is used.
+- The **EnableNetworkAccess** `[switch]` parameter is used.
 
 For more information on loopback connections, see [New-PSSession](New-PSSession.md) document.
 

reference/5.1/Microsoft.PowerShell.Core/Get-Help.md

@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ Get-Help Format-Table -Parameter GroupBy
 ```
 
 The **Examples** parameter displays the help file's **NAME** and **SYNOPSIS** sections, and all the
-Examples. You can't specify an Example number because the **Examples** parameter is a switch
+Examples. You can't specify an Example number because the **Examples** parameter is a `[switch]`
 parameter.
 
 The **Parameter** parameter displays only the descriptions of the specified parameters. If you

reference/5.1/Microsoft.PowerShell.Core/Where-Object.md

@@ -256,9 +256,9 @@ command.
   All PowerShell comparison operators are valid in the scriptblock format. For more information,
   see [about_Comparison_Operators](./About/about_Comparison_Operators.md).
 
-- **Simplified syntax**. To enable the simiplified syntax, `Where-Object` includes 31 switch
+- **Simplified syntax**. To enable the simplified syntax, `Where-Object` includes 31 `[switch]`
   parameters that represent the comparison operators. The simplified syntax is easier to read and
-  write than the scriptblock syntax. You can combine one of the switch parameters with the
+  write than the scriptblock syntax. You can combine one of the `[switch]` parameters with the
   **Property** and **Value** parameters to create a command that filters objects based on the
   values of their properties.
 
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ command.
 
   As shown in the example, the parameter names **Property** and **Value** are optional. The
   **Property** parameter is a positional parameter mapped to position `0`. The **Value** parameter
-  is a positional parameter mapped to position `1`. The switch parameter, used to specify the
+  is a positional parameter mapped to position `1`. The `[switch]` parameter, used to specify the
   comparison, can be used in any position.
 
   The simplified syntax was introduced in Windows PowerShell 3.0. For more information, see

reference/5.1/Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility/Show-Command.md

@@ -35,10 +35,10 @@ all installed modules. To find the commands in a module, select the module from
 drop-down list. To select a command, click the command name.
 
 To use the command window, select a command, either by using the Name or by clicking the command
-name in the **Commands** list. Each parameter set is displayed on a separate tab. Asterisks indicate
-the mandatory parameters. To enter values for a parameter, type the value in the text box or select
-the value from the drop-down box. To add a switch parameter, click to select the parameter check
-box.
+name in the **Commands** list. Each parameter set is displayed on a separate tab. Asterisks
+indicate the mandatory parameters. To enter values for a parameter, type the value in the text box
+or select the value from the drop-down box. To add a `[switch]` parameter, click to select the
+parameter check box.
 
 When you're ready, you can click **Copy** to copy the command that you've created to the clipboard
 or click **Run** to run the command. You can also use the **PassThru** parameter to return the

reference/7.4/CimCmdlets/New-CimSession.md

@@ -333,8 +333,8 @@ By default, the `New-CimSession` cmdlet establishes a connection with a remote W
 endpoint for two reasons: to verify that the remote server is listening on the port number that is
 specified using the **Port** parameter, and to verify the specified account credentials. The
 verification is accomplished using a standard WS-Identity operation. You can add the
-**SkipTestConnection** switch parameter if the remote WS-Management endpoint cannot use WS-Identify,
-or to reduce some data transmission time.
+**SkipTestConnection** `[switch]` parameter if the remote WS-Management endpoint cannot use
+WS-Identify, or to reduce some data transmission time.
 
 ```yaml
 Type: System.Management.Automation.SwitchParameter

reference/7.4/Microsoft.PowerShell.Core/About/about_Command_Syntax.md

@@ -198,19 +198,18 @@ The syntax diagrams use the following symbols:
 - Parameters with no values
 
   Some parameters don't accept input, so they don't have a parameter value.
-  Parameters without values are _switch parameters_. Switch parameters are used
-  like boolean values. They default to `$false`. When you use a switch
-  parameter, the value is set to `$true`.
+  Parameters without values are _`[switch]` parameters_. `[switch]` parameters
+  are used like boolean values. They default to `$false`. When you use a
+  `[switch]` parameter, the value is set to `$true`.
 
-  For example, the **ListImported** parameter of `Get-Command` is a switch
-  parameter. When you use the **ListImported** parameter, the cmdlet return
+  For example, the **ListImported** parameter of `Get-Command` is a `[switch]`
+  parameter. When you use the **ListImported** parameter, the cmdlet returns
   only commands that were imported from modules in the current session.
 
   ```Syntax
   Get-Command [-ListImported]
   ```
 
-<!-- So what are these `[    ]`? - square brackets, duh! -->
 - Brackets `[  ]` around parameters indicate optional items. A parameter and
   its value can be optional. For example, the **CommandType** parameter of
   `Get-Command` and its value are enclosed in brackets because they're both

reference/7.4/Microsoft.PowerShell.Core/About/about_Functions.md

@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ For more information about the standard PowerShell verbs, see
 ## Functions with parameters
 
 You can use parameters with functions, including named parameters, positional
-parameters, switch parameters, and dynamic parameters. For more information
+parameters, `[switch]` parameters, and dynamic parameters. For more information
 about dynamic parameters in functions, see
 [about_Functions_Advanced_Parameters][09].
 
@@ -403,13 +403,12 @@ Get-Extension myTextFile
 myTextFile.txt
 ```
 
-### Switch parameters
+### `[switch]` parameters
 
 A switch is a parameter that doesn't require a value. Instead, you type the
-function name followed by the name of the switch parameter.
+function name followed by the name of the `[switch]` parameter.
 
-To define a switch parameter, specify the type `[switch]` before the parameter
-name, as shown in the following example:
+The following example shows how you define a `[switch]` parameter:
 
 ```powershell
 function Switch-Item {
@@ -419,8 +418,9 @@ function Switch-Item {
 }
 ```
 
-When you type the `On` switch parameter after the function name, the function
-displays `Switch on`. Without the switch parameter, it displays `Switch off`.
+When you type the `On` `[switch]` parameter after the function name, the
+function displays `Switch on`. Without the `[switch]` parameter, it displays
+`Switch off`.
 
 ```powershell
 Switch-Item -On