PowerShell converts values returned from function. How to avoid this?

Question

I am trying to return List< T> from PowerShell function, but get one of:

1. null - for empty list
2. System.Int32 - for list with one element
3. Sy

Answer 1

PowerShell 5.0 added support for classes and hence methods where the return type can be specified. To control the type returned, use a class with a static method:

class ListManager {
    static [System.Collections.Generic.List[int]] Create() {
        [System.Collections.Generic.List[int]] $list =
            [System.Collections.Generic.List[int]]::new()

        $list.Add(3)

        return $list
     }
}

[ListManager]::Create().GetType()