String variable as argument to Get-ChildItem

Question

Why is it that this works:

PS C:\Users\user> Get-ChildItem '\\COMPUTER\folder with spaces'

But this does not:

PS C:\Users\user> $a = "'\\COMPUTER\folder with spaces'"
PS C:\Users\user> Get-ChildItem $a

Cannot find path 'C:\Users\user\'\COMPUTER\folder with spaces''
because it does not exist

How can I use a variable to do something to the effect of the latter?

Solution 1

Further experiments revealed this solution:

PS C:\Users\user> $a = "\\COMPUTER\folder with spaces"
PS C:\Users\user> Get-ChildItem "$a"

Solution 2

Nested quotes become part of the string.

• Get-ChildItem '\\COMPUTER\folder with spaces'

  This will read the child items from the share folder with spaces on the host COMPUTER.

• Get-ChildItem "\\COMPUTER\folder with spaces"

  This will do the same, but the double quotes also allow you to use variables inside the string, e.g. like this: "\\$computer\folder with spaces".

• Get-ChildItem "'\\COMPUTER\folder with spaces'"

  This, however, will look for a file or folder with the literal name '\\COMPUTER\folder with spaces' (including the single quotes) in the current working directory on your local computer.