--- layout: "docs" page_title: "Command: apply" sidebar_current: "docs-commands-apply" description: |- The `terraform apply` command is used to apply the changes required to reach the desired state of the configuration, or the pre-determined set of actions generated by a `terraform plan` execution plan. --- # Command: apply The `terraform apply` command is used to apply the changes required to reach the desired state of the configuration, or the pre-determined set of actions generated by a `terraform plan` execution plan. ## Usage Usage: `terraform apply [options] [dir-or-plan]` By default, `apply` scans the current directory for the configuration and applies the changes appropriately. However, a path to another configuration or an execution plan can be provided. Explicit execution plans files can be used to split plan and apply into separate steps within [automation systems](/guides/running-terraform-in-automation.html). The command-line flags are all optional. The list of available flags are: * `-backup=path` - Path to the backup file. Defaults to `-state-out` with the ".backup" extension. Disabled by setting to "-". * `-compact-warnings` - If Terraform produces any warnings that are not accompanied by errors, show them in a more compact form that includes only the summary messages. * `-lock=true` - Lock the state file when locking is supported. * `-lock-timeout=0s` - Duration to retry a state lock. * `-input=true` - Ask for input for variables if not directly set. * `-auto-approve` - Skip interactive approval of plan before applying. * `-no-color` - Disables output with coloring. * `-parallelism=n` - Limit the number of concurrent operation as Terraform [walks the graph](/docs/internals/graph.html#walking-the-graph). Defaults to 10. * `-refresh=true` - Update the state for each resource prior to planning and applying. This has no effect if a plan file is given directly to apply. * `-state=path` - Path to the state file. Defaults to "terraform.tfstate". Ignored when [remote state](/docs/state/remote.html) is used. * `-state-out=path` - Path to write updated state file. By default, the `-state` path will be used. Ignored when [remote state](/docs/state/remote.html) is used. * `-target=resource` - A [Resource Address](/docs/internals/resource-addressing.html) to target. For more information, see [the targeting docs from `terraform plan`](/docs/commands/plan.html#resource-targeting). * `-var 'foo=bar'` - Set a variable in the Terraform configuration. This flag can be set multiple times. Variable values are interpreted as [HCL](/docs/configuration/syntax.html#HCL), so list and map values can be specified via this flag. * `-var-file=foo` - Set variables in the Terraform configuration from a [variable file](/docs/configuration/variables.html#variable-files). If a `terraform.tfvars` or any `.auto.tfvars` files are present in the current directory, they will be automatically loaded. `terraform.tfvars` is loaded first and the `.auto.tfvars` files after in alphabetical order. Any files specified by `-var-file` override any values set automatically from files in the working directory. This flag can be used multiple times.