Getting Started with Terraform for Google Cloud
Terraform lets you describe your Google Cloud infrastructure in files, then build and change it by running a few commands. This section explores the Terraform workflow in detail - the purpose of each phase and how it is implemented.
Start with Infrastructure as Code for the why (the exam angle: repeatable, reviewable, drift-free vs clicking in the console); the rest of this section is the hands-on tool that implements it.
How this section is organized
Four arcs, in reading order:
| Arc | Pages | What you learn |
|---|---|---|
| Why | Infrastructure as Code | The case for IaC, imperative vs declarative, the GCP IaC tool landscape |
| Operate | Editions, Install & Auth → Workflow & Commands → Validator | Set Terraform up, run the five-phase workflow with init/plan/apply/fmt/destroy, gate applies with policy checks |
| Author | Language & Terms → Resources → Input Variables → Output Values → Modules → Registry, CFT & CFF | Write HCL: the building blocks, parameterization, reuse, and where to find pre-built modules |
| Apply & track | Hands-on: Build, Change, Destroy → State | Drive a real VM through its lifecycle, then understand the state file that makes it all work |
What is Terraform?
Terraform is an open-source Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tool by HashiCorp for provisioning resources - including Google Cloud resources - with declarative configuration files.
Because the infrastructure lives in files, those files can be treated as code: shared among team members, edited, reviewed, and versioned. This lets you build and deploy complex cloud infrastructure by running a few simple commands.
Who this course is for
Designed for DevOps Engineers, Cloud Architects, Cloud Engineers, and anyone interested in using Terraform to create and manage their Google Cloud infrastructure. This is a fundamental course covering the basics of Terraform for Google Cloud.
- Google Cloud Fundamentals: Core Infrastructure (the required prior course)
- Basic programming skills
- Familiarity with using the CLI
- General familiarity with Google Cloud
What you'll learn
Through a series of videos and hands-on labs, you'll work toward five learning objectives:
| # | Learning objective |
|---|---|
| 1 | Define the business need for Infrastructure as Code and the benefits of using it in your environment |
| 2 | Describe Terraform's features and functionalities |
| 3 | Use Terraform resource blocks, variables, and output values to create Google Cloud infrastructure resources |
| 4 | Use Terraform modules to build reusable configuration |
| 5 | Explain the Terraform state file and its importance |