Infrastructure as Code: CloudFormation Basics

Learn about AWS CloudFormation for Infrastructure as Code - from templates and stacks to parameters, outputs, and best practices.

template.yaml
AWSTemplateFormatVersion:
AWSTemplateFormatVersion: "2010-09-09"
Resources:
MyBucket:
Type: AWS::S3::Bucket
template.yaml
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Tutor:AWS CloudFormation is a service that helps you model and set up AWS resources using Infrastructure as Code (IaC). You create templates (JSON or YAML) that describe your AWS resources, and CloudFormation provisions and manages those resources for you.


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Concept 1: CloudFormation Basics

AWS CloudFormation is a service that helps you model and set up AWS resources using Infrastructure as Code (IaC). You create templates (JSON or YAML) that describe your AWS resources, and CloudFormation provisions and manages those resources for you.

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Infrastructure as Code: CloudFormation Basics

Author

Pascual Vila

Cloud Instructor.

AWS CloudFormation is a service that helps you model and set up AWS resources using Infrastructure as Code (IaC). You create templates (JSON or YAML) that describe your AWS resources, and CloudFormation provisions and manages those resources for you.

What is Infrastructure as Code?

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is the practice of managing and provisioning infrastructure through machine-readable definition files, rather than through manual processes. CloudFormation enables IaC for AWS resources.

CloudFormation Templates

CloudFormation templates are JSON or YAML files that describe your AWS infrastructure. Templates include sections like AWSTemplateFormatVersion, Description, Parameters, Resources, and Outputs. Resources are the core of templates - they define what AWS resources to create.

CloudFormation Stacks

A CloudFormation stack is a collection of AWS resources created from a template. When you create a stack, CloudFormation provisions all resources defined in the template. You can update or delete stacks, and CloudFormation manages dependencies and rollbacks automatically.

CloudFormation Glossary

AWS CloudFormation
A service that helps you model and set up AWS resources using Infrastructure as Code. You create templates that describe your AWS resources, and CloudFormation provisions and manages those resources.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
The practice of managing and provisioning infrastructure through machine-readable definition files, rather than through manual processes.
CloudFormation Template
A JSON or YAML file that describes your AWS infrastructure. Templates include sections like AWSTemplateFormatVersion, Description, Parameters, Resources, and Outputs.
CloudFormation Stack
A collection of AWS resources created from a template. When you create a stack, CloudFormation provisions all resources defined in the template.
Parameters
Template inputs that allow you to customize stacks without modifying templates. Parameters can have default values, allowed values, and descriptions.
Outputs
Values exported from stacks. Outputs can be referenced by other stacks, making it easy to build complex architectures. You can view outputs in the CloudFormation console or retrieve them via API.
Change Set
A preview of changes that will be made to a stack before applying them. Change Sets show what resources will be created, modified, or deleted, helping you understand the impact of template changes.