github.com/hugorut/terraform@v1.1.3/website/docs/language/modules/index.mdx (about)

     1  ---
     2  page_title: Modules Overview - Configuration Language
     3  description: >-
     4    Modules are containers for multiple resources that are used together in a
     5    configuration. Find resources for using, developing, and publishing modules.
     6  ---
     7  
     8  # Modules
     9  
    10  > **Hands-on:** Try the [Reuse Configuration with Modules](https://learn.hashicorp.com/collections/terraform/modules?utm_source=WEBSITE&utm_medium=WEB_IO&utm_offer=ARTICLE_PAGE&utm_content=DOCS) collection on HashiCorp Learn.
    11  
    12  _Modules_ are containers for multiple resources that are used together. A module
    13  consists of a collection of `.tf` and/or `.tf.json` files kept together in a
    14  directory.
    15  
    16  Modules are the main way to package and reuse resource configurations with
    17  Terraform.
    18  
    19  ## The Root Module
    20  
    21  Every Terraform configuration has at least one module, known as its
    22  _root module_, which consists of the resources defined in the `.tf` files in
    23  the main working directory.
    24  
    25  ## Child Modules
    26  
    27  A Terraform module (usually the root module of a configuration) can _call_ other
    28  modules to include their resources into the configuration. A module that has
    29  been called by another module is often referred to as a _child module._
    30  
    31  Child modules can be called multiple times within the same configuration, and
    32  multiple configurations can use the same child module.
    33  
    34  ## Published Modules
    35  
    36  In addition to modules from the local filesystem, Terraform can load modules
    37  from a public or private registry. This makes it possible to publish modules for
    38  others to use, and to use modules that others have published.
    39  
    40  The [Terraform Registry](https://registry.terraform.io/browse/modules) hosts a
    41  broad collection of publicly available Terraform modules for configuring many
    42  kinds of common infrastructure. These modules are free to use, and Terraform can
    43  download them automatically if you specify the appropriate source and version in
    44  a module call block.
    45  
    46  Also, members of your organization might produce modules specifically crafted
    47  for your own infrastructure needs. [Terraform Cloud](/cloud) and
    48  [Terraform Enterprise](/enterprise) both include a private
    49  module registry for sharing modules internally within your organization.
    50  
    51  ## Using Modules
    52  
    53  - [Module Blocks](/language/modules/syntax) documents the syntax for
    54    calling a child module from a parent module, including meta-arguments like
    55    `for_each`.
    56  
    57  - [Module Sources](/language/modules/sources) documents what kinds of paths,
    58    addresses, and URIs can be used in the `source` argument of a module block.
    59  
    60  - The Meta-Arguments section documents special arguments that can be used with
    61    every module, including
    62    [`providers`](/language/meta-arguments/module-providers),
    63    [`depends_on`](/language/meta-arguments/depends_on),
    64    [`count`](/language/meta-arguments/count),
    65    and [`for_each`](/language/meta-arguments/for_each).
    66  
    67  ## Developing Modules
    68  
    69  For information about developing reusable modules, see
    70  [Module Development](/language/modules/develop).