When using Terraform, what does the command terraform destroy do?

The command terraform destroy is specifically designed to remove all resources that have been created by Terraform based on the current configuration files. This command analyzes the existing infrastructure defined in the state file and proceeds to systematically destroy each resource, ensuring that your environment is returned to a clean slate as specified in your Terraform configuration.

This behavior is essential for managing infrastructure as code, allowing you to easily tear down environments that are no longer needed, which can be particularly useful during development or testing phases. By using this command, users can ensure that they can clear resources to avoid unwanted costs or resource clutter without having to manually delete each item.

The other options provided do not accurately describe the functionality of the terraform destroy command. For instance, it does not delete the Terraform binary from the local system, nor does it merely remove the state file or invalidate resources without deleting them. Such distinctions are important for understanding how Terraform manages infrastructure and state effectively.