What does the default "local" Terraform backend store?

The default "local" Terraform backend is designed to store the state file. The state file is a critical component of Terraform's operation because it contains information about the resource configurations and their current state in a specific environment. This includes metadata about the resources being provisioned and their relationships, which allows Terraform to manage and track the changes made over time.

When you use the local backend, Terraform maintains this state file on the local filesystem of the machine where Terraform is executed. This file is usually named terraform.tfstate, and it enables Terraform to perform actions like planning and applying infrastructure changes, as it can reference what is currently in place versus what is defined in the configuration files.

Proper handling of the state file is essential for collaboration, as it ensures that all changes are accounted for and can be reconciled with the desired configuration. In multi-user environments, relying solely on the local backend can lead to inconsistencies since multiple users might inadvertently make changes to the local state file.

The other options refer to components related to Terraform, but they do not accurately describe what the local backend stores. Configuration files are usually kept separately by the user, environment variables are used for settings and configurations during runtime, and module definitions pertain to reusable code components in Terraform but