What is the purpose of the terraform plan command?

The terraform plan command is designed to create an execution plan, which outlines the proposed changes to be made to the infrastructure based on the current state and the configuration files. By running this command, users can review what Terraform intends to do before making any actual modifications or applying changes. It provides a clear overview of resources that will be added, changed, or destroyed, allowing for verification and approval of these changes prior to execution.

This planning phase is crucial for ensuring that users have a clear understanding of the impact their changes will have on the infrastructure. It allows for adjustments to be made if the proposed changes are not aligned with the user's intentions or if any errors need to be rectified before the actual application of those changes.

While applying changes, initializing new modules, and creating state files are important functions within Terraform, they do not directly describe the function of the terraform plan command. Thus, the focus of this command is specifically on reviewing the intended changes, supporting better infrastructure management and minimizing risks associated with unintentional modifications.