How to print terraform variable values?

Question

I am learning terraform. I want to print values of variables in "plan" stage. So I found how to do it. seems I am doing something wrong here....

in variables.tf:....

variable "VMCount" {
    description = "How many VMs do you want to start with (number)? default=1 max=5"
    type = number
}

in main.tf

output "VMCount" {
  value = "${var.VMCount > 2 && var.VMCount < 6 ? var.VMCount : 2}"
}

after that i run terraform plan and the condition seem to be working fine (it creates right num of VMs)

but the variable output is not coming. why?

$ terraform output
VMC = 56

that VMC is might be from some previous attempts ( I tried several things).

How to print the value of user entry (variable)?

Thank you.

Answer 1

I tested with this:

variable "VMCount" {
    description = "How many VMs do you want to start with (number)? default=1 max=5"
    type = number
}

output "VMCount" {
  value = "${var.VMCount > 2 && var.VMCount < 6 ? var.VMCount : 2}"
}

and it works well.

Terraform will perform the following actions:

Plan: 0 to add, 0 to change, 0 to destroy.

Changes to Outputs:
  + VMCount = 4

Do you want to perform these actions?
  Terraform will perform the actions described above.
  Only 'yes' will be accepted to approve.

  Enter a value: yes


Apply complete! Resources: 0 added, 0 changed, 0 destroyed.

Outputs:

VMCount = 4
PS C:\d\m\terraform\output-and-variable> terraform output
VMCount = 4
PS C:\d\m\terraform\output-and-variable> terraform apply
var.VMCount
  How many VMs do you want to start with (number)? default=1 max=5

  Enter a value: 8


Terraform used the selected providers to generate the following execution plan. Resource actions are indicated with the following symbols:

Terraform will perform the following actions:

Plan: 0 to add, 0 to change, 0 to destroy.

Changes to Outputs:
  ~ VMCount = 4 -> 2

Do you want to perform these actions?
  Terraform will perform the actions described above.
  Only 'yes' will be accepted to approve.

  Enter a value: yes


Apply complete! Resources: 0 added, 0 changed, 0 destroyed.

Outputs:

VMCount = 2
PS C:\d\m\terraform\output-and-variable> terraform output
VMCount = 2
PS C:\d\m\terraform\output-and-variable>

Could you check what outouts doyou have in state? VMC or VMCount?

Answer 2

As stated here in the terraform documentation:

Outputs are only rendered when Terraform applies your plan. Running terraform plan will not render outputs.