HashiCorp Terraform Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Practice Test

The command that initializes a Terraform configuration is "terraform init." This command prepares the working directory for other commands by performing several key tasks. It installs the necessary provider plugins specified in the configuration files, which are critical for Terraform to manage the defined infrastructure resources. Additionally, "terraform init" sets up the backend configuration, allowing Terraform to know where to store its state files and manage them effectively.

This command is fundamental when starting to work with any Terraform configuration, as it ensures that the environment is correctly set up and ready for further operations, such as planning or applying changes to the infrastructure. Without running "terraform init," you would not be able to proceed with those subsequent commands effectively, making it an essential step in the workflow of using Terraform.