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Run terraform plan to preview the infrastructure changes Terraform proposes, then inspect the affected resources and values before applying anything. The plan command does not itself change remote infrastructure. For an automation or review handoff, save the plan with -out, inspect that saved file, and apply the same file rather than generating a different plan.
What Terraform plans—and what it does not
In normal mode, Terraform refreshes its view of remote objects, compares the configuration with prior state, and proposes actions intended to bring managed objects in line with the configuration. A plan is a proposal, not an execution: running terraform plan alone does not carry out the proposed changes. See HashiCorp’s terraform plan command reference.
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A plan is based on the configuration and infrastructure Terraform observes at planning time. A speculative plan—one created without saving it using -out—is useful for review, but remote infrastructure may change before a later apply. HashiCorp advises checking the final non-speculative plan before applying it.
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In the Terraform working directory, initialize the working environment if needed:
terraform init. Initialization prepares the directory for Terraform operations. The official Create a Terraform plan tutorial walks through this workflow.#1 Best Overall
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Preview the proposed changes:
terraform plan. Terraform refreshes its view of remote objects in normal mode, then reports the actions it proposes. -
Review the output resource by resource. Check each resource address, action, planned value, and any effects on outputs. Pay particular attention to resources marked for replacement or deletion; summary totals alone do not show the impact on each object.
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For an interactive workflow, run
terraform apply. It creates a fresh plan and asks for approval by default. Inspect that final plan before approving it. The terraform apply command reference explains the apply behavior.What’s actually slowing this PC down?
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Read the action symbols
| Symbol | Meaning | What to check |
|---|---|---|
+ |
Create a resource | Confirm the address and proposed values are expected. |
- |
Destroy a resource | Confirm that removal is intentional and identify what depends on the object. |
~ |
Update a resource in place | Review which values change and the operational effect of the update. |
-/+ |
Replace a resource by destroying it and creating it again | Check whether replacement is intended and whether the interruption or loss of existing data is acceptable. |
These symbols describe proposed actions; inspect the full resource details rather than inferring impact from the symbol or plan totals. HashiCorp’s plan reference documents the symbols and sample output.
Choose the right planning workflow
Interactive local review
Use terraform plan to preview, then terraform apply to generate and review a fresh plan before approving it. If there is a delay or infrastructure may have changed since your preview, rely on the plan shown by the final apply rather than assuming the earlier preview is still current.
Saved plan for a handoff or automation
Save the proposal, inspect it, and apply that same saved plan:
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terraform plan -out=tfplan
terraform show tfplan
terraform apply tfplanA saved plan records the planned operations; applying it does not prompt for approval. This makes it suitable for a review-to-apply handoff, but the file is not a casual text export: HashiCorp says it contains the full configuration, planned values, plan options, and input variables. Store and transfer it accordingly. For automation that must not stop for missing input, HashiCorp documents -input=false as an option; automation should also ensure required inputs are provided. See the plan reference, the apply reference, and Running Terraform in automation.
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| Mode or option | Purpose | Review implication |
|---|---|---|
Normal mode: terraform plan |
Refresh remote objects and propose changes that bring managed infrastructure toward the configuration. | Review proposed creates, updates, replacements, deletions, and output effects. |
Refresh-only: terraform plan -refresh-only |
Review how Terraform state and root module outputs should change after out-of-band infrastructure changes. | It reconciles recorded state; it does not propose undoing the external changes on remote objects. Inspect unexpected differences before applying. |
Destroy mode: terraform plan -destroy |
Preview destruction of all managed remote objects. | Use only when removal is intended, and inspect the proposed deletions before applying. |
When external changes need to be recorded
If someone changed infrastructure outside Terraform and you want to reconcile Terraform’s state with what exists, use terraform plan -refresh-only. Review the state changes before applying them; this mode does not change remote objects to match the configuration. The refresh-only tutorial describes a consequential failure case: if provider settings point to the wrong region, Terraform may fail to find a real object and infer that it was deleted. Before accepting unexpected drift, check credentials, provider configuration, and region.
The older terraform refresh command is deprecated because it automatically applies a state refresh. HashiCorp recommends reviewing with terraform plan -refresh-only and, if appropriate, applying with terraform apply -refresh-only. See the terraform refresh command reference.
When destruction is intended
terraform plan -destroy previews a plan intended to destroy all managed remote objects. Review the deletion list carefully before proceeding. terraform destroy is a convenience alias for applying in destroy mode, not a safer preview command. See the terraform destroy command reference.
Options that change planning behavior
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-replace=ADDRESStells Terraform to plan replacement of a specified resource instance. Check the address and resulting replacement actions in the plan.Quick wins for a faster PC:
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-refresh=falseskips the normal refresh. This may make planning faster, but it can ignore external changes and produce an incomplete or incorrect plan. It cannot be combined with refresh-only mode. -
-out=FILENAMEsaves the plan in Terraform’s opaque format for later inspection or application. Treat the file as sensitive because it includes configuration, planned values, plan options, and input variables; it is not a general-purpose interchange format.
Option behavior is documented in the terraform plan command reference.
Quick Recap
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