When looking at the syntax, you will see that most commands end with a CommonParameters item:
SYNTAX
Get-Process ... [<CommonParameters>]
These common parameters are documented inside PowerShell:
Get-Help about_CommonParameters
These parameters let you control some of the standardized functionality PowerShell provides, such as verbose output and actions to take when errors occur.
For example, Stop-Process does not explicitly state that it has a Verbose parameter, but as Verbose is a common parameter it may be used. This can be seen if notepad is started and immediately stopped:
PS> Start-Process notepad -Verbose -PassThru | Stop-Process -Verbose
VERBOSE: Performing the operation "Stop-Process" on target "notepad (5592)".
Not so verbose
Just because a command supports a set of common parameters does not mean it must use them; for example, Get-Process supports the Verbose parameter, yet it does not write any verbose output.
Just because a command supports a set of common parameters does not mean it must use them; for example, Get-Process supports the Verbose parameter, yet it does not write any verbose output.