What distinguishes a map from a list type in Terraform?

The distinction that sets a map apart from a list in Terraform lies in their structure and usage. A map is characterized by its organization of data into key-value pairs, where each key is unique and directly associates with its corresponding value. This allows for easy access and manipulation of values based on their keys, enabling more semantically meaningful data handling.

In contrast, a list is simply an ordered collection of values that can be accessed by their index position. Lists do not require any associated keys, making them useful for scenarios where the order of items is significant but where identification by keys is unnecessary.

Understanding this difference allows developers to choose the appropriate type based on the data they are working with and the relationships that need to be established between their components, enhancing clarity and structure within the code.