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TF-004 Understand IaC concepts Practice Question
Drag and drop the steps to upgrade Terraform providers in a configuration in the correct order.
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
✓
Check current provider versions, then update version constraints, then run terraform init to upgrade, then run terraform plan to validate.
The correct sequence for upgrading Terraform providers is: first check current provider versions to establish a baseline, then update version constraints in the configuration to target the desired versions, then run terraform init to download and install those versions, and finally run terraform plan to verify that the upgrade does not introduce unexpected changes. This order ensures a controlled and validated upgrade process.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Check current provider versions, then update version constraints, then run terraform init to upgrade, then run terraform plan to validate.
Why this is correct
This is the correct order because you first check versions to know what you have, then update constraints to specify desired versions, then run init to download the specified versions, and finally plan to ensure no unexpected changes.
- ✗
Check current provider versions, then run terraform init to upgrade, then update version constraints, then run terraform plan to validate.
Why it's wrong here
Running `terraform init` before updating provider version constraints means the command will resolve and install the highest allowed provider version based on the *existing* constraints. If new, higher versions are subsequently specified in the configuration, the `init` operation would not have installed the intended target versions. A subsequent `terraform plan` would then operate against the incorrectly installed provider versions, failing to validate the desired upgrade and necessitating another `init`.
- ✗
Update version constraints, then check current provider versions, then run terraform init to upgrade, then run terraform plan to validate.
Why it's wrong here
Updating provider version constraints without first checking current provider versions is an inefficient and error-prone approach. Without knowing the currently installed versions, or the range of available newer versions, a user might specify an incompatible, non-existent, or overly restrictive version constraint. This lack of foundational context can lead to failed `terraform init` operations or unexpected breaking changes, making the upgrade process less predictable and more difficult to troubleshoot.
- ✗
Check current provider versions, then update version constraints, then run terraform plan to validate, then run terraform init to upgrade.
Why it's wrong here
Executing `terraform plan` *before* running `terraform init` (after updating version constraints) is fundamentally incorrect. The `plan` command relies on the locally installed provider binaries to generate an execution plan reflecting the current configuration. If `init` has not yet been executed to download and install the newly specified provider versions, `plan` will operate against the *previously installed* (older) provider versions. This results in a plan that does not reflect the desired state with the upgraded providers, rendering the validation step ineffective and misleading.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This TF-004 practice question is part of Courseiva's free HashiCorp certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the TF-004 exam.