4 Importing Resources

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📌 How Import Works

Import command:

terraform import <terraform_resource_address> <aws_resource_identifier>

After import:

• Terraform updates terraform.tfstate
• But *does NOT write code for you
• You must have matching resource config in .tf files

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📌 Example — Import IAM Role

Terraform code:

resource "aws_iam_role" "lambda_role" {
  name = "OrderUpLambdaExecutionRole"
}

Import:

terraform import aws_iam_role.lambda_role OrderUpLambdaExecutionRole

Now Terraform knows:
“This existing IAM role belongs to this resource block.”

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📌 Important Rules

✔ Resource MUST exist in AWS
✔ Resource MUST exist as a block in Terraform
✔ Import ONLY updates state, not your .tf code
✔ After import: run terraform plan

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📌 Workflow Summary

1. Write the resource block in .tf
2. Run terraform import
3. Run terraform plan
4. Fix any differences
5. Run terraform apply