In Terraform, what is a 'resource'?

In Terraform, a 'resource' is indeed a block of code that defines one or more infrastructural components. This definition is fundamental to how Terraform operates, as resources are the primary building blocks for the infrastructure being managed. By declaring resources in Terraform configuration files, users specify what infrastructure elements they want to create, such as virtual machines, storage accounts, networks, and more.

Each resource block typically includes parameters that configure the resource's behavior and characteristics. For instance, a resource for a cloud instance would include details like its size, type, boot image, and any associated networking. When the configuration is applied, Terraform interprets these blocks and interacts with the relevant cloud provider's API to create, update, or delete those resources in the target environment.

Understanding what a resource is helps Terraform users effectively manage and provision their infrastructure declaratively, ensuring that the desired state is achieved and maintained.