Free sampleTerraform state managementeasy
Which description best captures the role of the local backend within Terraform's backend system?
- AIt is an add-on backend that must be installed as a separate plugin before it can store state.
- BIt is a backend that streams state to standard output so it can be piped into another tool.
- CIt is a read-only backend used to inspect state that some other backend has written.
- DIt is a backend that stores state on the local filesystem and performs operations on the local machine. Correct
The local backend is the built-in default that stores state on the local filesystem and runs operations on the local machine. A backend in Terraform determines where state is stored and where operations execute, and the local backend, which is built in and used by default, keeps state in a file on the local filesystem while running plan and apply on the same machine.
Why A is wrong: The local backend is built in and needs no installation; confusing it with provider plugins makes this tempting but wrong.
Why B is wrong: State is persisted to a file, not streamed to standard output, so this misdescribes how the local backend behaves.
Why C is wrong: The local backend both reads and writes state during operations, so calling it read-only is incorrect.
Why D is correct: The local backend keeps state as a file on the local filesystem and executes plan and apply operations on the machine running Terraform, which is exactly its role.