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Modules

Modules are packages of PowerShell commands -- cmdlets, functions, variables, and more -- bundled together for easy distribution and reuse. They are how the PowerShell ecosystem extends beyond the built-in commands.

Why Modules Matter

Instead of writing everything from scratch, you can install modules that provide ready-made commands for Azure, Microsoft 365, databases, and thousands of other tasks. Modules keep your scripts concise and let you leverage community-tested code.

Discovering Loaded Modules

Use Get-Module to see what is currently loaded in your session:

powershell

Get-Module

To see all modules installed on your system (not just loaded ones), add -ListAvailable:

powershell

Get-Module -ListAvailable

Key Concept: PowerShell auto-imports modules when you call one of their commands. You rarely need to call Import-Module manually, but it is useful when you want to load a specific version or confirm a module is available.

Finding Modules in the Gallery

The PowerShell Gallery (PSGallery) is the central public repository. Use Find-Module to search it:

powershell

Find-Module -Name "*SharePoint*"
Find-Module -Tag "Azure"

Installing Modules

Install a module from the gallery with Install-Module:

powershell

Install-Module -Name Az -Scope CurrentUser

The -Scope CurrentUser flag installs the module in your personal modules folder, which does not require administrator privileges.

Key Concept: Always review a module before installing. Use Find-Module -Name <name> to check the author, download count, and description before running Install-Module.

Importing Modules

Although PowerShell auto-imports modules on first use, you can explicitly load one:

powershell

Import-Module -Name Az.Accounts

This is useful in scripts where you want to guarantee the module is loaded before calling any of its commands.

Key Modules to Know

| Module | Purpose |

|---|---|

| Az | Managing Azure resources |

| Microsoft.Graph | Microsoft 365 and Entra ID (Azure AD) |

| PnP.PowerShell | SharePoint Online administration |

| PSReadLine | Enhanced command-line editing (built-in) |

| Pester | Testing framework for PowerShell scripts |

| ImportExcel | Read/write Excel files without Excel installed |

Checking Module Versions

After installing, verify the version with:

powershell

Get-Module -Name Az -ListAvailable | Select-Object Name, Version

Exercises

0/5 completed

Write a command to list all modules currently loaded in your PowerShell session.

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