github.com/hugorut/terraform@v1.1.3/website/docs/cli/state/taint.mdx (about)

     1  ---
     2  page_title: Forcing Re-creation of Resources (Tainting) - Terraform CLI
     3  description: Commands that allow you to destroy and re-create resources manually.
     4  ---
     5  
     6  # Forcing Re-creation of Resources (Tainting)
     7  
     8  When a resource declaration is modified, Terraform usually attempts to update
     9  the existing resource in place (although some changes can require destruction
    10  and re-creation, usually due to upstream API limitations).
    11  
    12  In some cases, you might want a resource to be destroyed and re-created even
    13  when Terraform doesn't think it's necessary. This is usually for objects that
    14  aren't fully described by their resource arguments due to side-effects that
    15  happen during creation; for example, a virtual machine that configures itself
    16  with `cloud-init` on startup might no longer meet your needs if the cloud-init
    17  configuration changes.
    18  
    19  - [The `terraform taint` command](/cli/commands/taint) tells Terraform to
    20    destroy and re-create a particular resource during the next apply, regardless
    21    of whether its resource arguments would normally require that.
    22  
    23  - [The `terraform untaint` command](/cli/commands/untaint) undoes a
    24    previous taint, or can preserve a resource that was automatically tainted due
    25    to failed [provisioners](/language/resources/provisioners/syntax).