simpler Powershell OR condition syntax

Question

Is there a simpler way to specify an -or condition? For example, if ($returnValue -eq 0 -or $returnValue -eq 5). I would rather write something like if ($returnValue -eq 0 -or 5) to test two possible values of $returnValue. Of course that's doing something else. Ok, just thought of coercing the value into a character type using a regular expression: if ($returnValue -match '0|5') So, now that I've answered my question, any other ideas?

Simpler or more obtuse?

Austin T French
– Austin T French

2016-10-12 17:34:06 +00:00
Commented Oct 12, 2016 at 17:34 — Austin T French
– Austin T French, Commented Oct 12, 2016 at 17:34

briantist · Accepted Answer · 2016-10-12 17:41:12Z

4

I would use -contains or -in where appropriate:

if ((0,5) -contains $returnValue)

or

if ($returnValue -in (0,5))

-in was added in PowerShell v3.

I highly discourage the regex "solution" because it can have unintended side effects and reduces clarity. For example 51 -match '0|5' is $true.

Consider just formatting your if statement on multiple lines:

if (
    $returnValue -eq 0 -or
    $returnValue -eq 5
)

Though I still like -contains and -in for what you're trying to achieve.

$validVals = @(
    0,
    5,
    17
)

if ($validVals -contains $returnVal) {
    # ...
}

if ($returnVal -in $validVals) {
    # ...
}

edited Oct 12, 2016 at 17:41

answered Oct 12, 2016 at 17:33

briantist

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1 Comment

Roman Over a year ago

I agree about the regex solution not being good for this. Thanks.

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