---
layout: "docs"
page_title: "Interpolation Syntax"
sidebar_current: "docs-config-interpolation"
description: |-
  Embedded within strings in Terraform, whether you're using the Terraform syntax or JSON syntax, you can interpolate other values into strings. These interpolations are wrapped in `${}`, such as `${var.foo}`.
---

# Interpolation Syntax

Embedded within strings in Terraform, whether you're using the
Terraform syntax or JSON syntax, you can interpolate other values
into strings. These interpolations are wrapped in `${}`, such as
`${var.foo}`.

The interpolation syntax is powerful and allows you to reference
variables, attributes of resources, call functions, etc.

## Available Variables

**To reference user variables**, use the `var.` prefix followed by the
variable name. For example, `${var.foo}` will interpolate the
`foo` variable value. If the variable is a mapping, then you
can reference static keys in the map with the syntax
`var.MAP.KEY`. For example, `${var.amis.us-east-1}` would
get the value of the `us-east-1` key within the `amis` variable
that is a mapping.

**To reference attributes of your own resource**, the syntax is
`self.ATTRIBUTE`. For example `${self.private_ip_address}` will
interpolate that resource's private IP address. Note that this is
only allowed/valid within provisioners.

**To reference attributes of other resources**, the syntax is
`TYPE.NAME.ATTRIBUTE`. For example, `${aws_instance.web.id}`
will interpolate the ID attribute from the "aws\_instance"
resource named "web". If the resource has a `count` attribute set,
you can access individual attributes with a zero-based index, such
as `${aws_instance.web.0.id}`. You can also use the splat syntax
to get a list of all the attributes: `${aws_instance.web.*.id}`.
This is documented in more detail in the
[resource configuration page](/docs/configuration/resources.html).

**To reference outputs from a module**, the syntax is
`MODULE.NAME.OUTPUT`. For example `${module.foo.bar}` will
interpolate the "bar" output from the "foo"
[module](/docs/modules/index.html).

**To reference count information**, the syntax is `count.FIELD`.
For example, `${count.index}` will interpolate the current index
in a multi-count resource. For more information on count, see the
resource configuration page.

**To reference path information**, the syntax is `path.TYPE`.
TYPE can be `cwd`, `module`, or `root`. `cwd` will interpolate the
cwd. `module` will interpolate the path to the current module. `root`
will interpolate the path of the root module. In general, you probably
want the `path.module` variable.

## Built-in Functions

Terraform ships with built-in functions. Functions are called with
the syntax `name(arg, arg2, ...)`. For example,
to read a file: `${file("path.txt")}`. The built-in functions
are documented below.

The supported built-in functions are:

  * `concat(args...)` - Concatenates the values of multiple arguments into
      a single string.

  * `element(list, index)` - Returns a single element from a list
      at the given index. If the index is greater than the number of
      elements, this function will wrap using a standard mod algorithm.
      A list is only possible with splat variables from resources with
      a count greater than one.
      Example: `element(aws_subnet.foo.*.id, count.index)`

  * `file(path)` - Reads the contents of a file into the string. Variables
      in this file are _not_ interpolated. The contents of the file are
      read as-is.

  * `format(format, args...)` - Formats a string according to the given
      format. The syntax for the format is standard `sprintf` syntax.
      Good documentation for the syntax can be [found here](http://golang.org/pkg/fmt/).
      Example to zero-prefix a count, used commonly for naming servers:
      `format("web-%03d", count.index+1)`.

  * `join(delim, list)` - Joins the list with the delimiter. A list is
      only possible with splat variables from resources with a count
      greater than one. Example: `join(",", aws_instance.foo.*.id)`

  * `lookup(map, key)` - Performs a dynamic lookup into a mapping
      variable. The `map` parameter should be another variable, such
      as `var.amis`.

  * `replace(string, search, replace)` - Does a search and replace on the
      given string. All instances of `search` are replaced with the value
      of `replace`. If `search` is wrapped in forward slashes, it is treated
      as a regular expression. If using a regular expression, `replace`
      can reference subcaptures in the regular expression by using `$n` where
      `n` is the index or name of the subcapture. If using a regular expression,
      the syntax conforms to the [re2 regular expression syntax](https://code.google.com/p/re2/wiki/Syntax).

  * `split(delim, string)` - Splits the string previously created by `join`
      back into a list. This is useful for pushing lists through module
      outputs since they currently only support string values.
      Example: `split(",", module.amod.server_ids)`