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Terraform Associate Exam - Question 88


Terraform validate reports syntax check errors from which of the following scenarios?

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Correct Answer: D

The terraform validate command checks for syntax errors and the internal consistency of Terraform configuration files. It focuses on issues such as invalid HCL syntax, invalid references, duplicate provider, module, or resource declarations, invalid module names, and unsupported interpolation. It does not check for formatting issues like tabs versus spaces, nor does it verify the state file against the current infrastructure. Missing values for variables do not trigger a syntax error because they can be provided during runtime, such as with terraform apply. Therefore, none of the listed scenarios would cause a syntax error reported by terraform validate.

Discussion

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EltoothOption: B
Jan 7, 2023

B is correct answer. The terraform validate command is used to validate the syntax of the terraform files. Terraform performs a syntax check on all the terraform files in the directory, and will display an error if any of the files doesn't validate. This command does not check formatting (e.g. tabs vs spaces, newlines, comments etc.). The following can be reported: invalid HCL syntax (e.g. missing trailing quote or equal sign) invalid HCL references (e.g. variable name or attribute which doesn't exist) same provider declared multiple times same module declared multiple times same resource declared multiple times invalid module name interpolation used in places where it's unsupported (e.g. variable, depends_on, module.source, provider) missing value for a variable (none of -var foo=... flag, -var-file=foo.vars flag, TF_VAR_foo environment variable, terraform.tfvars, or default value in the configuration) https://www.typeerror.org/docs/terraform/commands/validate https://learning-ocean.com/tutorials/terraform/terraform-validate

Pietjeplukgeluk
Aug 10, 2023

Just tested this in lab, and "missing value for a variable (none of -var foo=... flag, -var-file=foo.vars flag, TF_VAR_foo environment variable, terraform.tfvars, or default value in the configuration)" is untrue, it is required to declare the variable type (but a value is not required to pass the "terraform validate")e.g. validates if referred somewhere else : variable "ami_type" { type = string }

deepeshukla
Dec 26, 2023

Agree. D is the correct answer. I tested in Lab. Missing variable value will not be reported in terraform valid, because it can be passed while running code (hence not invalid code).

joyboy23
Jan 6, 2024

I tested the same too. VSCode is detecting it but not terraform validate.From exam point of view, I wonder which one is the correct answer

Tyler2023
May 2, 2024

Agree on this, D is the correct answer Terraform Validate runs checks that verify whether a configuration is syntactically valid and internally consistent, regardless of any provided variables or existing state. To verify configuration in the context of a particular run (a particular target workspace, input variable values, etc), use the terraform plan command instead, which includes an implied validation check. https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/cli/commands/validate

deepeshukla
Dec 26, 2023

Agree. D is the correct answer. I tested in Lab. Missing variable value will not be reported in terraform valid, because it can be passed while running code (hence not invalid code).

joyboy23
Jan 6, 2024

I tested the same too. VSCode is detecting it but not terraform validate.From exam point of view, I wonder which one is the correct answer

Tyler2023
May 2, 2024

Agree on this, D is the correct answer Terraform Validate runs checks that verify whether a configuration is syntactically valid and internally consistent, regardless of any provided variables or existing state. To verify configuration in the context of a particular run (a particular target workspace, input variable values, etc), use the terraform plan command instead, which includes an implied validation check. https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/cli/commands/validate

aanataliyaOption: D
Mar 11, 2024

Confusion between B and D. B was correct in older version of terraform. it was correct until v0.12.9 but then it was removed in later version. see below documentation links. As per latest documentation B is incorrect when we have option D available. https://github.com/hashicorp/terraform/blob/v0.12.9/website/docs/commands/validate.html.markdown https://github.com/hashicorp/terraform/blob/v0.12.10/website/docs/commands/validate.html.markdown please vote for correct answer to help others.

agmesasOption: D
Aug 6, 2023

D, definitely. Validate runs checks that verify whether a configuration is syntactically valid and internally consisten, regardless of any provide variables or existing state (B and C discarded). ...referring only to the configuration and not accessing any remote service such as remote state... For A, you must use "fmt". Validate, validates the type of variables, missing brackets, etc...

Zam88
Dec 19, 2022

The following can be reported: invalid HCL syntax (e.g. missing trailing quote or equal sign) invalid HCL references (e.g. variable name or attribute which doesn't exist) same provider declared multiple times same module declared multiple times same resource declared multiple times invalid module name interpolation used in places where it's unsupported (e.g. variable, depends_on, module.source, provider) missing value for a variable (none of -var foo=... flag, -var-file=foo.vars flag, TF_VAR_foo environment variable, terraform.tfvars, or default value in the configuration) B

alifieOption: D
Apr 14, 2023

D is correct. validate does not check for uninitialized values of vars, only for undeclared vars! #terraform validate Success! The configuration is valid. #terraform plan var.my_ip Enter a value: You can specify a value for a var with -var in cli or terraform prompts you for a value.

Pietjeplukgeluk
Aug 10, 2023

Nice demo, you hit the nail on the head!

David_C_90Option: D
Sep 15, 2023

Validate runs checks that verify whether a configuration is syntactically valid and internally consistent, regardless of any provided variables or existing state. It is thus primarily useful for general verification of reusable modules, including correctness of attribute names and value types. https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/cli/commands/validate

AntonyPeter7Option: D
Sep 3, 2024

D is the correct answer. Without value for variable, if we run terraform apply, it will ask for value via CLI.

yaza
Apr 1, 2023

B is false. Validate runs checks that verify whether a configuration is syntactically valid and internally consistent, regardless of any provided variables or existing state. It is thus primarily useful for general verification of reusable modules, including correctness of attribute names and value types.

yaza
Apr 6, 2023

Selected Answer: D

minaeshakOption: D
Jul 14, 2023

D is correct

Shankpra
Aug 3, 2023

It's D terraform plan var.access_key2 Enter a value: terraform validate Success! The configuration is valid.

charleschouteauOption: D
Aug 14, 2023

D is correct

dhez46Option: D
Oct 3, 2023

https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/cli/commands/validate Validate runs checks that verify whether a configuration is syntactically valid and internally consistent, regardless of any provided variables or existing state. It is thus primarily useful for general verification of reusable modules, including correctness of attribute names and value types.

vikramvlr
Jun 14, 2023

D is the correct answer. we can give the input value during the terraform apply. It will not through the error if the value is not declared in the variable. varaible "env_name" {} It will through the error if you are not declared the variable itself in variable.tf(undeclared variable error) below mentioned reference links are not official hashicorp links.

CofkoCofOption: D
Jul 15, 2023

DDDDDD

Pranay6687Option: B
Aug 27, 2023

Answer should be B. http://man.hubwiz.com/docset/Terraform.docset/Contents/Resources/Documents/docs/commands/validate.html

lordoftheringsnewavatar
Sep 29, 2023

main.tf variable "instance_type" { type = string } resource "aws_instance" "test-vm" { ami = "ami-00c39f71452c08778" instance_type = var.instance_type ===== cat terraform.tfvars instance_type = ===== terraform validate Success! The configuration is valid.

campsOption: D
Sep 30, 2023

D. None of the above. Terraform validate is a command that checks the syntax and consistency of a Terraform configuration file, without launching the resources. It checks for errors such as syntax errors, invalid expressions, and incorrect values for argument types.

Artemiy
Oct 7, 2023

D, B is wrong just tested with empty variables and validation is success

henro4niger
Jan 2, 2024

It never said "empty" variable, however, it says missing value for a variable. You specified a variable and after the equals sign, you missed the value, the validate command will flag this

sylvergorillaOption: B
Oct 14, 2023

Yes, the terraform validate command will check for missing values for a variable. It will return an error if a required variable is not defined or has no value assigned to it. I just tested this in a lab.

Jayapriya
Nov 18, 2023

It's D "To verify configuration in the context of a particular run (a particular target workspace, input variable values, etc), use the terraform plan command instead, which includes an implied validation check."

kudakkOption: D
Feb 19, 2024

https://github.com/hashicorp/terraform/issues/21986 Validation is not meant to ensure variables have values assigned, but rather it is used to determine if the structure, syntax, and types used in the configuration are valid, regardless of the values of the variables.

Spandrop
Mar 1, 2024

D is the correct answer "Validate runs checks that verify whether a configuration is syntactically valid and internally consistent, regardless of any provided variables or existing state. It is thus primarily useful for general verification of reusable modules, including correctness of attribute names and value types." https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/cli/commands/validate

Alex1atdOption: D
Apr 10, 2024

You can have missing value on variable, so D is the answer

TigerInTheCloudOption: D
Jun 19, 2024

$ cat main.tf variable "cmd" {} resource "null_resource" "cmd" { provisioner "local-exec" { command = "${var.cmd}" } } $ terraform validate Success! The configuration is valid.

AlandtOption: D
Jul 22, 2024

Newer version of Terraform does not require you to give up values.

Hossamjom
May 2, 2023

D the right answer, Validate will not through error if there is missing variable value, because the user will be able to enter the var.value

secdaddy
Jun 6, 2023

terraform validate ╷ │ Error: Reference to undeclared input variable │ │ on main.tf line 4, in provider "aws": │ 4: secret_key = var.secret_key │ │ An input variable with the name "secret_key" has not been declared. This variable can be declared with a │ variable "secret_key" {} block.

lo_ol
Jul 20, 2023

terraform validate DOES NOT checks for variables "terraform validate checks if the module implementation itself is valid, not whether a particular plan for it is valid. Variables are part of a plan rather than part of the module itself, so terraform validate does not do any checks of their values. (it does, however, detect if they are being used consistently in the module, such as producing an error if a string variable is used where a list is expected.)" https://github.com/hashicorp/terraform/issues/21790

Abhijeet2904Option: A
Aug 6, 2023

A. Code contains tabs indentation instead of spaces The "terraform validate" command is used to check the syntax and structure of a Terraform configuration, but does not verify the correctness of the configuration or ensure that it is in sync with the current infrastructure. The "terraform validate" command will report syntax errors in the Terraform code, such as using tabs instead of spaces for indentation. To verify that the configuration is in sync with the current infrastructure, you can run "terraform plan" or "terraform apply". To check for missing values for variables, you can set the TF_WARN_VAR_NAME environment variable to "1".

Power123
Sep 30, 2023

Correct answer is B.

ProfXsamsonOption: B
Oct 24, 2023

Yes, Terraform validates checks for missing values for a variable. When running Terraform, it checks for required variables that are not set and prompts the user to provide a value for them. If a required variable is not set and there is no default value provided in the variable definition, Terraform will throw an error and the deployment will fail. Additionally, Terraform also performs type validation for variables, ensuring that the value provided for a variable is of the correct data type. For example, if a variable is defined as a string, Terraform will ensure that the value provided is a string and not an integer or boolean. It's important to ensure that all required variables are set before deploying infrastructure with Terraform, as missing values can cause errors and unexpected behavior during deployment.

kiran15789Option: A
Nov 7, 2023

A is clear and makes sense, B says missing values for variable, but terraform only checks for missing values for "required" variables

Ni33Option: B
Nov 9, 2023

B is the correct answer.

KJ_RollingsOption: D
Nov 17, 2023

It's D. Try declaring an empty variable and using it in a resource block. terraform validate won't show any errors. You can declare an empty variable like this and Terraform won't mind. variable "test" { }

sdm13168Option: D
Nov 18, 2023

A,B,C are all wrong.

milan92stankovicOption: B
Dec 15, 2023

Terraform validate reports on missing variables.

milan92stankovicOption: B
Dec 16, 2023

It's B.

foreverlearnerOption: B
Jan 6, 2024

I agree with B. If you run tf validate without specifying the value of an input variable, you get an error: tf validate Error: Missing required argument The argument "input_var" is required, but no definition was found.

RajmaneOption: B
Feb 7, 2024

B is right.

ReiBOption: B
Feb 8, 2024

Have tried and confirmed B is correct

SairamObili
Feb 15, 2024

you can define an completely an empty variables like variable "temp'{}. this is syntactically right and there is on error in it. D is the correct Answer

vvkgp
Feb 20, 2024

B is correct: terraform validate not only checks for syntax and structural correctness but also ensures that required variable values are provided before proceeding with other Terraform operations.

debabrata6983Option: D
Feb 27, 2024

Correct Answer is D

HalimbOption: D
Mar 4, 2024

D. None of the above. Ref: https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/cli/commands/validate

gofavad926Option: B
Mar 29, 2024

B. There is missing value for a variable Terraform validate will check for syntax errors in your Terraform configuration, including the following: Missing or invalid variable values Invalid resource references Invalid attribute values Invalid data source references Invalid module references Terraform validate will not check for the following: Code indentation State file consistency Other configuration errors, such as logical errors or errors in the desired state of your infrastructure

adityanarayan
Apr 8, 2024

i have checked practiacally with none variable value output say its valid so option D

Aman726Option: D
Apr 14, 2024

D is correct

MauroSoli
Apr 25, 2024

Also input variable of a root module is a variable. So if a variable of an used module haven't a default value terraform validate return error. Answer is B

MisterR0B0T
May 1, 2024

A terraform validate is a command that validates the configuration files in a directory, referring only to the configuration and not accessing any remote services such as remote state, provider APIs, etc1. It runs checks that verify whether a configuration is syntactically valid and internally consistent, regardless of any provided variables or existing state 1. Therefore, it reports syntax check errors if there are any syntax errors in the code 1. Therefore, the correct answer is A. Code contains tabs indentation instead of spaces.

MisterR0B0T
May 1, 2024

D - The terraform validate command is used to validate the syntax of the terraform files. Terraform performs a syntax check on all the terraform files in the directory, and will display an error if any of the files doesn't validate. This command does not check formatting (e.g. tabs vs spaces, newlines, comments etc.)

ghostGuiggsOption: B
May 2, 2024

B is the answer

Ramdi1Option: B
May 25, 2024

I think it is B

erhardOption: D
Aug 26, 2024

https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/cli/commands/validate ... regardless of any provided variables or existing state