What are the benefits of using AWS CloudFormation templates?

AWS CloudFormation templates provide infrastructure as code benefits including version control, repeatability, automated provisioning, and consistent deployments. Templates make it easy to replicate environments, manage changes with rollbacks, and document infrastructure in a machine-readable format.

What is the format of an AWS CloudFormation template?

A CloudFormation template can be written in YAML or JSON and includes sections: AWSTemplateFormatVersion (version), Description, Parameters (input values), Mappings, Conditions, Resources (required - AWS resources to create), and Outputs (values to export). The Resources section is the only required section.

Can I use parameters in CloudFormation templates?

Yes, CloudFormation templates support parameters that allow you to pass custom values when creating or updating a stack. Parameters can have types (String, Number, List, AWS-specific types), default values, allowed values, and descriptions. This makes templates reusable across different environments.

How do I deploy an AWS CloudFormation template?

Deploy a CloudFormation template by going to the CloudFormation console, clicking 'Create stack', uploading your template file or providing an S3 URL, entering parameter values, configuring stack options, and clicking Create. You can also deploy using the AWS CLI: aws cloudformation create-stack --stack-name mystack --template-body file://template.yaml.

AWS CloudFormation Templates: Benefits, YAML & JSON Examples

July 1, 2020 / Nirav Shah

Cloud formation is a service that allows you to manage, configure and provision your AWS infrastructure as code and all resources are defined using cloud formation template. This template interacts with API calls and creates resources that you define.

It supports YAML and JSON.

What Are the Benefits of AWS CloudFormation Templates?

Less time as compared to when the configuration is done manually.
Free to use (however you are charged for what you create and usage of AWS services).
Can be used to manage updates & dependencies.
Can be used to rollback and delete entire stack as well.

What Is an AWS CloudFormation Template? Definition & Structure

Now let’s see what is a cloud formation template.
YAML or JSON template used to describe the end state of the infrastructure you are either provisioning or changing.
You can upload the cloud formation template on s3 bucket.
Cloud formation reads the temples and makes the API call on your behalf.

AWS CloudFormation Template YAML Example (Step-by-Step)

The resulting resources are called a stack.

AWS Cloudformation Template format is shown in the following YAML template.

AWSTemplateFormatVersion: "2010-09-09"
Description: A sample template
Resources:
  MyEC2Instance: #An inline comment
    Type: "AWS::EC2::Instance"
    Properties: 
      ImageId: "ami-0ff8a91507f77f867" #Another comment -- This is a Linux AMI
      InstanceType: t2.micro
      KeyName: testkey
      BlockDeviceMappings:
        -
          DeviceName: /dev/sdm
          Ebs:
            VolumeType: io1
            Iops: 200
            DeleteOnTermination: false
            VolumeSize: 20

So from the above example, you can see that this template is about creating an EC2 instance and the size is t2 micro, and we have set the permission to delete on termination. And the keyname is testkey.

AWS CloudFormation Template JSON Example (Step-by-Step)

So it’s very easy to understand. Here we have defined the JSON format.

"Metadata": {
  "AWS::CloudFormation::Designer": {
    "6b56eaae-0bb6-4215-aad6-12345EXAMPLE": {
      "size": {
        "width": 60,
        "height": 60
      },
      "position": {
        "x": 340,
        "y": 430
      },
      "z": 2,
      "parent": "21ccc9b0-29e9-4a86-9cf2-12345EXAMPLE",
      "embeds": [],
      "ismemberof": [
        "c3eead73-6a76-4532-9268-12345EXAMPLE"
      ]
    },

Learn More About CloudFormation Template Anatomy & Structure

What is Template Snippets

It provides a number of example scenarios that you can use to understand how to declare various AWS CloudFormation template parts.

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Also Read: AWS Elastic Beanstalk vs OpsWorks vs CloudFormation

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Nirav Shah

Nirav Shah is the Director of Eternal Web Pvt Ltd, an AWS Advanced Consulting Partner and certified Odoo Partner based in the UK. With over a decade of experience in cloud computing, digital transformation, and ERP implementation, Nirav helps enterprises adopt the right technology to solve complex business challenges. He specialises in AWS infrastructure, Odoo ERP, and web development solutions for businesses across the UK and beyond.