Terraform Global Object

 📌 What is a Terraform Global Object? 

A global object in Terraform refers to a built-in symbol that you can access anywhere in your configuration without explicitly declaring it. These objects provide context, metadata, or access to other modules, resources, or Terraform settings. 

 

🧱 Explanation of module (Global Object) 

module.<MODULE_NAME>.<OUTPUT_NAME> 
 

• module: This is the global object in Terraform that holds all instantiated modules. 

• <MODULE_NAME>: The name you give your module block (like vpc, eks, rds, etc.). 

• <OUTPUT_NAME>: A value defined using an output block inside that module. 

Example 

module "vpc" { 
 source = "./modules/vpc" 
} 
 
output "my_vpc_id" { 
 value = module.vpc.vpc_id 
} 
 

In this case: 

• module is the global object. 

• vpc is the instance name of the module. 

• vpc_id is defined as an output in the modules/vpc code. 

 

🌍 List of Terraform Global Objects 

Here are all major global objects that you can use anywhere in Terraform: 

Global Object	Description
Module	Access outputs of child modules. Example: module.vpc.vpc_id
Terraform	Access Terraform settings and metadata (e.g., backend workspace). Example: terraform.workspace
Var	Access input variables. Example: var.environment
Local	Access named local values defined in the current module. Example: local.tags
Path	Access paths related to the module. Example: path.module
Count	Used inside count-enabled resources to refer to the index. Example: count.index
Each	Used inside for_each to access key/value. Example: each.key, each.value
Self	Refers to the current resource being created. Used in dynamic blocks or nested resource configuration.
Data	Access data sources. Example: data.aws_ami.ubuntu.id
Resource	Access other resources if needed (used in rare advanced scenarios).

 

🔎 Examples 

Use Case	Example
Variable reference	var.region
Module output	module.eks.cluster_name
Local value	local.tags["Environment"]
Terraform workspace	terraform.workspace
Path of module	path.module
Count index	count.index
For_each loop value	each.value.name

 

✅ Summary Table 

Object	Example Use	Description
var	var.instance_type	Input variables
local	local.env_name	Local values inside a module
module	module.vpc.vpc_id	Output values from a module
terraform	terraform.workspace	Terraform's current workspace
path	path.module, path.root	Path metadata (current file/module)
data	data.aws_region.current.name	Data source references
count	count.index	Current index in a count loop
each	each.key, each.value	Current item in a for_each loop
self	self.name (inside dynamic)	Current resource inside nested block