Question

A new team member argues that Terraform configurations should list the exact sequence of API calls needed to build infrastructure, similar to a shell script. A senior engineer explains that Terraform does not work this way. Which statement best describes how Terraform's approach differs from the shell-script method the new member described?

Accepted Answer

Terraform uses a declarative model where you define the desired end state, and Terraform determines the operations needed to reach it.

Answer

Terraform uses an imperative model where each resource block is executed as an ordered command exactly as written.

Answer

Terraform requires you to manually specify every create, update, and delete operation in the correct order.

Answer

Terraform executes configuration files top-to-bottom, so resource order in the file always dictates provisioning order.