If a module uses local values, what feature can be used to expose those values?

When a module uses local values, Terraform outputs are the feature that can be used to expose those values. Outputs in Terraform allow you to define return values from a module that can be accessed from the parent module or elsewhere in your configuration. This is particularly useful when you want other parts of your infrastructure to use computed values generated within a module, making the outputs a vital communication interface between modules.

By defining outputs, you provide a way to retrieve data that is not directly accessible outside of the module itself. This can include local values that have been calculated for use within the module, which you now want to share at a higher level. For example, an output might expose the result of a calculation or a reference to a resource created within the module, enabling other parts of your Terraform configuration to utilize this data effectively.

In contrast, variables serve as inputs to modules rather than a means to expose internal values, data sources are used to fetch and reference data from outside your Terraform configuration, and inputs are parameters that allow you to customize module behavior at runtime. Outputs serve a distinct purpose in encapsulating and sharing internal data from a module, making them the appropriate choice for exposing local values.