nerdexam
HashiCorp

TA-002-P · Question #80

You write a new Terraform configuration and immediately run terraform apply in the CLI using the local backend. Why will the apply fail?

The correct answer is B. Terraform needs to install the necessary plugins first. A terraform apply command will fail in a new configuration with a local backend because Terraform needs to first install the necessary provider plugins during the terraform init phase. Without initialization, Terraform cannot interact with the specified infrastructure providers.

Use Terraform Cloud and Terraform Enterprise capabilities

Question

You write a new Terraform configuration and immediately run terraform apply in the CLI using the local backend. Why will the apply fail?

Options

  • ATerraform needs you to format your code according to best practices first
  • BTerraform needs to install the necessary plugins first
  • CThe Terraform CLI needs you to log into Terraform cloud first
  • DTerraform requires you to manually run terraform plan first

How the community answered

(57 responses)
  • A
    11% (6)
  • B
    82% (47)
  • C
    2% (1)
  • D
    5% (3)

Why each option

A `terraform apply` command will fail in a new configuration with a local backend because Terraform needs to first install the necessary provider plugins during the `terraform init` phase. Without initialization, Terraform cannot interact with the specified infrastructure providers.

ATerraform needs you to format your code according to best practices first

Code formatting (e.g., via `terraform fmt`) is for readability and consistency, not a prerequisite for `terraform apply` to succeed.

BTerraform needs to install the necessary plugins firstCorrect

When a new Terraform configuration is created, `terraform init` must be run first to download and install the required provider plugins and modules. Without these plugins, `terraform apply` cannot understand or interact with the resources defined in the configuration.

CThe Terraform CLI needs you to log into Terraform cloud first

Logging into Terraform Cloud is only required if using Terraform Cloud as a backend or for remote operations, not for a local backend.

DTerraform requires you to manually run terraform plan first

While `terraform plan` is a good practice to review changes, it is not strictly required before `terraform apply`; `apply` implicitly performs a plan.

Concept tested: Terraform initialization and provider plugin installation

Source: https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/cli/commands/init

Topics

#Terraform Cloud#Authentication#Remote Backend#CLI apply

Community Discussion

No community discussion yet for this question.

Sign up to join the discussion
Full TA-002-P Practice