Networking in PowerShell refers to using built-in cmdlets and commands to interact with devices, services, and resources over a network. From checking if a remote server is reachable to resolving domain names, downloading files, or testing open ports — PowerShell gives you a full toolbox for managing and troubleshooting network connections directly from the terminal. Unlike older tools like ping and tracert in CMD, PowerShell’s networking commands are object-based, meaning their results can be further filtered, piped, or used inside scripts for automation.
This makes it incredibly useful for sysadmins, developers, or security pros who need to automate network tests, monitor infrastructure, or deploy scripts across many machines. Whether you're verifying internet access, diagnosing connection issues, or downloading logs from a remote server — PowerShell networking commands let you do it all without leaving the shell. Plus, with tools like Invoke-RestMethod and Invoke-WebRequest, you can also work with web APIs, automate data retrieval, or even build your own simple monitoring dashboards. It’s an essential skillset if you're working in Windows environments.
Test-Connection to check network reachability, or Invoke-WebRequest to fetch pages and files right from the terminal.