How to Convert StringList Parameters to PowerShell Arrays in Azure DevOps YAML Pipelines

Azure DevOps YAML pipelines provide a well-established, code-based approach to defining CI/CD workflows as code. When working with YAML pipelines, various types of parameters can be used to pass input values into the pipeline. These parameters can be referenced in later stages for multiple purposes, such as structuring the pipeline, adding conditions, or controlling task behavior.

In this blog, we’ll learn how to use StringList parameters in a PowerShell task within a YAML pipeline.

Pre-requites: Experience with Azure DevOps YAML pipelines

Using StringList Parameters in Azure DevOps Pipelines

Azure DevOps YAML pipelines now support the stringList parameter type, which allows you to present multiple selectable options as checkboxes in the pipeline UI.

This blog explains a pipeline that uses a stringList parameter with three values: dev, qa, and prod. After adding the region parameter as a stringList, the pipeline looks similar to the image below.