What does the 'terraform validate' command do?

The 'terraform validate' command is used primarily to check the syntax and configuration of Terraform files for any errors before applying them. It verifies whether the configuration is syntactically valid and adheres to the required structure expected by Terraform, ensuring that there are no mistakes that could lead to unexpected behavior when executing other commands.

This command does not execute any changes to the infrastructure or interact with the existing state; instead, it acts as a preliminary check to enhance the reliability and accuracy of your infrastructure code. By using this command, users can catch potential issues such as syntax errors or misconfigured resources early in the development process. Thus, it acts as a safeguard and helps in maintaining the integrity of the infrastructure defined through Terraform configuration files.