Testing and Validation
This section covers comprehensive testing strategies for Terraform infrastructure code, reflecting modern practices as of 2025. Testing infrastructure as code is crucial for maintaining reliable and secure cloud deployments.
Testing Pyramid
Our testing approach follows a pyramid structure:
Unit Tests - Testing individual modules and resources
Fast execution
High isolation
Focused on configuration validation
See: Unit Testing Guide
Integration Tests - Testing module interactions
Tests multiple modules together
Validates resource dependencies
Ensures proper configuration sharing
End-to-End Tests - Testing complete infrastructure
Tests full deployments
Validates real-world scenarios
Includes performance and scalability
See: E2E Testing Guide
Testing Framework
We recommend using Terratest as the primary testing framework for Terraform:
Mature and widely adopted
Strong community support
Comprehensive feature set
Cloud provider support
See: Terratest Guide
Best Practices
1. Test Environment Management
Use separate state files for tests
Implement proper cleanup procedures
Use unique identifiers for test resources
Implement proper access controls
2. Test Data Handling
Use mock data when possible
Implement data cleanup procedures
Handle sensitive information properly
Use environment variables for credentials
3. Continuous Integration
Automate test execution
Implement proper test reporting
Set up notifications for failures
Track test coverage
4. Security Considerations
Test security configurations
Validate access controls
Check for compliance requirements
Test encryption settings
Tools and Resources
Terratest for test implementation
AWS/Azure/GCP testing tools
CI/CD platforms (GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps)
Monitoring and logging tools
Last updated