PowerShell is a command-line shell and scripting language developed by Microsoft, primarily for system administration and automation tasks. It allows users to automate the management of Windows and other Microsoft environments, offering a powerful set of cmdlets (commands) for tasks like file manipulation, process management, and network administration. PowerShell also supports scripting, enabling the creation of complex workflows, and it can interact with .NET libraries, APIs, and even remote systems. It is widely used by IT professionals for automating repetitive tasks and managing system configurations.