What does IaC stand for in the context of HashiCorp Terraform?

In the context of HashiCorp Terraform, IaC stands for Infrastructure as Code. This concept refers to the practice of managing and provisioning computing infrastructure through machine-readable definition files, rather than through physical hardware configuration or interactive configuration tools.

Using Infrastructure as Code allows developers and operators to define their infrastructure in a declarative manner, enabling version control, automation, and reproducibility. With Terraform, users can write configuration files that describe the desired state of their infrastructure, and Terraform will handle the creation, updating, and management of those resources in a consistent manner.

This approach not only streamlines the provisioning process but also allows for collaboration and sharing between teams, making infrastructure management more efficient and less prone to human error. Terraform’s focus on IaC demonstrates how infrastructure management can evolve to integrate with modern software development practices, promoting a more agile and responsive IT environment.