Which of the following tasks does terraform init perform?

The task of terraform init encompasses a range of essential actions that prepare your Terraform environment for the configuration you intend to apply. This command serves several crucial functions, which is why "all of the answers" is the most suitable choice.

Firstly, terraform init does source any modules referenced in your configuration and copies them to your local environment. This is vital as modules often contain pre-defined resources and can significantly streamline infrastructure development.

In addition to module sourcing, terraform init connects to the backend configured in your Terraform setup. This connection is important for managing the state file and coordinating your infrastructure changes effectively, especially in a collaborative environment.

Moreover, terraform init is responsible for sourcing all providers indicated in the configuration. It downloads the necessary provider plugins and makes them available locally, ensuring that Terraform has all the components it needs to create and manage the specified resources.

Thus, because terraform init encompasses sourcing modules, connecting to the backend, and downloading providers, it justifies the conclusion that it performs all of these tasks.