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HashiCorp

TERRAFORM-ASSOCIATE-004 · Question #68

What is a key benefit of the Terraform state file?

The correct answer is B. A state file is a source of truth for resources provisioned with Terraform. The Terraform state file (terraform.tfstate) acts as the source of truth for all resources that Terraform manages. It maps real-world infrastructure to your configuration, tracks metadata, and allows Terraform to determine what changes need to be made on subsequent applies…

Submitted by omar99· Apr 18, 2026Manage Terraform State

Question

What is a key benefit of the Terraform state file?

Options

  • AA state file can schedule recurring infrastructure tasks
  • BA state file is a source of truth for resources provisioned with Terraform
  • CA state file is a source of truth for resources provisioned with a public cloud console
  • DA state file is the desired state expressed by the Terraform code files

How the community answered

(27 responses)
  • B
    96% (26)
  • D
    4% (1)

Explanation

The Terraform state file (terraform.tfstate) acts as the source of truth for all resources that Terraform manages. It maps real-world infrastructure to your configuration, tracks metadata, and allows Terraform to determine what changes need to be made on subsequent applies. Option A is incorrect because state files don't schedule tasks. Option C is wrong because the state file only tracks resources provisioned by Terraform, not resources created via a cloud console (unless imported). Option D confuses state with configuration - the .tf code files represent desired state, while the state file represents actual current state.

Topics

#Terraform state#State file purpose#Source of truth#Infrastructure management

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