Terraform CLI
Terraform found an invalid resource reference
Error: Invalid reference
Terraform could not interpret the reference because it does not follow Terraform's expected resource, attribute, or collection access pattern.
Error AtlasError Documentation and ResolutionObserved message
Error: Invalid reference
Why it happens
- A resource type is referenced without a resource name or valid attribute path.
- A list-style or splat-style reference is being used in the wrong expression context.
- The configuration assumes Terraform can infer a resource path that must be written explicitly.
How to fix it
- Rewrite the reference so it includes the full resource name and a valid attribute access path.
- Check whether the expression expects a map, list, or object and adjust the reference style accordingly.
- Use locals or for expressions when you need to transform collections before referencing them.
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