TF-004 Read, generate and modify configuration Practice Question
After running `terraform plan`, a developer sees the following line in the output: `Plan: 1 to add, 0 to change, 0 to destroy.` What does this indicate?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse 'add' with 'change' or 'destroy', failing to recognize that Terraform's plan output uses precise terminology—'add' always means creation, never modification or deletion.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
One resource will be created.
The output `Plan: 1 to add, 0 to change, 0 to destroy` directly indicates that Terraform will create one new resource, with no modifications or removals. The 'add' count in a Terraform plan corresponds to resources that exist in the configuration but not in the current state file, meaning they will be provisioned during the apply phase.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
One resource will be destroyed.
Why it's wrong here
If Terraform intended to destroy a resource, the `terraform plan` output would explicitly indicate this action, typically by prefixing the resource address with a hyphen (`-`) or stating `(destroy)` next to it. The presence of an "add" action, as implied by the question, signifies an intent to create, not destroy, a resource. Therefore, this option is incorrect because destruction is clearly denoted differently in the plan output.
- ✗
No changes will be made.
Why it's wrong here
The statement "No changes will be made" is directly contradicted by the observation of an "add" action in the `terraform plan` output. An "add" explicitly means Terraform has identified a new resource defined in the configuration that is not present in the current state, and it intends to provision this resource. This constitutes a significant modification to the infrastructure, making this option incorrect.
- ✗
One resource will be changed.
Why it's wrong here
A "change" operation in `terraform plan` output typically refers to modifying attributes of an *existing* resource, often indicated by a tilde (`~`) or `(update in-place)`. The phrase "to add," however, specifically denotes the creation of a *new* resource that does not currently exist in the infrastructure or state file. Since the action is "to add," it implies creation, not an update to an existing resource.
- ✓
One resource will be created.
Why this is correct
When `terraform plan` output indicates "to add" for a resource, it precisely means that Terraform has detected a new resource block in the configuration that is not yet reflected in the current Terraform state. This action signifies that Terraform intends to provision a brand-new instance of that resource in the target cloud provider or service. Therefore, "to add" directly translates to the creation of one resource.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
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