CloudFormation is an Infrastructure as Code (IaC) product — you can create manage, and remove infrastructure using JSON or YAML. CloudFormation is effective if you frequently deploy the same infrastructure or you require guaranteed consistent configuration.
CloudFormation Fundamentals
A CloudFor mation (CFN/cfn) template is used to initially create a CFN stack. A stack creates, updates, and deletes physical AWS resources based on its logical resources, which are based on the contents of a template.
- A CFN template is written in JSON or YAML.
- A template can create up to 200 resources.
- If a stack is deleted, then, by default, any resources it has created are also deleted.
- A stack can be updated by uploading a new version of a template.
- New logical resources cause new physical resources.
- Removed logical resources cause the stack to delete physical resources.
- Changed logical resources update with some disruption or replace physical resources.