Managing Terraform state across multiple configurations is a common challenge in multi-team environments. This guide covers three main approaches: using data sources (implicit, no state file access required), passing outputs/variables between configurations, and using the terraform_remote_state data source for explicit state sharing. Key best practices include minimizing state sharing, treating shared outputs like a public API contract, preferring stable long-lived data, using data sources or platform features over direct state file access, and restricting consumers to read-only access. The guide includes concrete AWS S3 backend examples with IAM policy configurations for secure cross-team state sharing.
Table of contents
What is Terraform state?Why share Terraform state?How to share Terraform stateBest practices when sharing Terraform stateHow to manage Terraform state with SpaceliftKey pointsFrequently asked questionsSort: