GetCommand

GetCommand is a term used in software development to describe a mechanism for retrieving a command object from a registry, factory, or similar repository. The concept is used to support dynamic invocation, discovery of available actions, and decoupling of callers from concrete implementations.

In PowerShell, the related built-in cmdlet is Get-Command, which lists and provides information about all executable commands in the session, including cmdlets, functions, scripts, and external programs. Get-Command supports filtering and formatting and serves as a primary tool for discovery and understanding the command surface of a system.

In software design, GetCommand is commonly used as a method name in implementations of the command pattern or in UI binding, where it returns a command object that encapsulates an action. Such command objects typically expose an Execute method or delegate an action, enabling binding to buttons, menu items, or automated workflows while keeping the caller ignorant of the implementation details.

Implementation considerations include how commands are registered (through a registry, DI container, or map), how they are discovered (reflection, configuration, or convention), and how parameters are supplied. Caching, permission checks, and cross-cutting concerns like logging or undo support are often integrated at this layer.

See also: Get-Command; Command pattern; Command registry; Command binding.