AWS CloudFormation is a service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that enables users to model and manage infrastructure resources in an automated and secure manner.
[8] By using templates, users can create, update, and delete a collection of resources together as a single unit, known as a stack.
[9] A CloudFormation template consists of several sections, including Resources, Parameters, Mappings, Conditions, Outputs, and Metadata.
[13] For example, mappings can be used to define different instance types and Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) for different environments.
[18] Drift detection helps maintain the consistency of infrastructure resources and aids in troubleshooting when unexpected changes occur.
[21] 2019: AWS CloudFormation Registry and CLI were introduced, enabling users to extend the service with third-party and custom resource types.
This enhancement allows for more flexibility in managing resources beyond the native AWS offerings.