When would you typically use the terraform import command?

The terraform import command is specifically utilized for managing existing infrastructure that was not initially created with Terraform. When you have resources that were provisioned outside of Terraform's management—such as resources created manually, through another tool, or prior to adopting Terraform—you can use the import command to bring those resources into Terraform's state management. This allows Terraform to track and manage these existing resources going forward, enabling you to apply any configuration changes or updates using Terraform.

Using terraform import helps establish a relationship between your infrastructure and the Terraform state file, which is essential for future updates or modifications. This process is crucial for maintaining consistency and ensuring that your infrastructure evolves alongside your configuration as expressed in your Terraform files.

The other options do not encapsulate the primary purpose of the terraform import command. Creating new resources is done through the apply command using defined configurations, while testing configuration syntax is achieved with the plan command. Deleting infrastructure is performed using the destroy command. Therefore, the correct use case for terraform import is indeed to manage existing infrastructure.