--- layout: "intro" page_title: "Output Variables" sidebar_current: "gettingstarted-outputs" description: |- In the previous section, we introduced input variables as a way to parameterize Terraform configurations. In this page, we introduce output variables as a way to organize data to be easily queried and shown back to the Terraform user. --- # Output Variables In the previous section, we introduced input variables as a way to parameterize Terraform configurations. In this page, we introduce output variables as a way to organize data to be easily queried and shown back to the Terraform user. When building potentially complex infrastructure, Terraform stores hundreds or thousands of attribute values for all your resources. But as a user of Terraform, you may only be interested in a few values of importance, such as a load balancer IP, VPN address, etc. Outputs are a way to tell Terraform what data is important. This data is outputted when `apply` is called, and can be queried using the `terraform output` command. ## Defining Outputs Let's define an output to show us the public IP address of the elastic IP address that we create. Add this to any of your `*.tf` files: ``` output "ip" { value = "${aws_eip.ip.public_ip}" } ``` This defines an output variable named "ip". The `value` field specifies what the value will be, and almost always contains one or more interpolations, since the output data is typically dynamic. In this case, we're outputting the `public_ip` attribute of the elastic IP address. Multiple `output` blocks can be defined to specify multiple output variables. ## Viewing Outputs Run `terraform apply` to populate the output. This only needs to be done once after the output is defined. The apply output should change slightly. At the end you should see this: ``` $ terraform apply ... Apply complete! Resources: 0 added, 0 changed, 0 destroyed. Outputs: ip = 50.17.232.209 ``` `apply` highlights the outputs. You can also query the outputs after apply-time using `terraform output`: ``` $ terraform output ip 50.17.232.209 ``` This command is useful for scripts to extract outputs. ## Next You now know how to parameterize configurations with input variables, extract important data using output variables, and bootstrap resources using provisioners. Next, we're going to take a look at [how to use modules](/intro/getting-started/modules.html), a useful abstraction to organization and reuse Terraform configurations.