Introducing the Terraform backend

In this section, we are going to talk about the Terraform state file and the Terraform backend. As you know, Terraform follows a desired state configuration model where you describe the environment you would like to build using declarative code and Terraform attempts to make that desired state a reality. A critical component of the desired state model is mapping what currently exists in the environment and what is expressed in the declarative code. Terraform tracks this mapping through a JSON formatted data structure called a state file. We are going to look at where the Terraform state file can be stored, how it can be configured and accessed, and what the best practices for keeping a Terraform tfstate file are.

Terraform state

You are already aware of when you write the Terraform configuration file and how while executing terraform init, plan, and apply, it is used to generate a state file that stores information about your complete infrastructure...