What is Terraform? Infrastructure as Code, Simplified

Terraform is an open-source tool that allows users to define, provision, and manage infrastructure using code, known as Infrastructure as Code (IaC). It eliminates the need for manual provisioning, which can be painful and error-prone. Terraform uses declarative configuration files that describe what the infrastructure should look like, including virtual networks, databases, storage buckets, and more. Key concepts in Terraform include declarative language, providers, resources, state files, and modules. Terraform provides several benefits, including consistency, version control, automation, multi-cloud support, and documentation. The tool is highly scalable and auditable, giving users confidence in their provisioning. In real-world projects, it's essential to keep environments isolated, tag everything for cost tracking, and use terraform plan before every apply. Finally, Terraform has changed the way users approach infrastructure, making it reproducible and scalable.