Which resource meta-parameter can you use to specify a dependency manually in Terraform?

In Terraform, the depends_on meta-parameter allows you to explicitly specify dependencies between resources. This is particularly useful when you need to ensure that one resource is created only after another specific resource has been successfully created, regardless of how Terraform automatically determines dependencies based on resource references.

For instance, if you have a virtual machine that should not be created until a network is fully provisioned, you can use depends_on to enforce this order. This helps avoid timing issues that may arise from Terraform's normal behavior, where it deduces dependencies from input/output references, but there are cases where manual specification is essential.

Choosing depends_on allows you to have control over the execution order in your infrastructure deployment, facilitating the creation and management of complex resource relationships smoothly. This capability is essential for ensuring that your infrastructure is provisioned correctly and in the desired sequence, supporting the overall reliability and stability of your deployments.