<p>While it's best practice to use <code>variables.tf</code> and <code>outputs.tf</code>, both variables and outputs can be declared in any file - so in a way it just boils down to both personal preference along with any formatting rules that may exist in your project or team.</p>
<p>Personally, I prefer to always use these files as it helps me keep things tidy and organized.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-02T13:49:53.230Z
2022-03-02T13:49:53.230Z
Joan Serra
<p>I've been reading up the Terraform standard module structure and I see they want a main, outputs, and variables file in every one.</p>
<p>I have a pair of modules where everything fits in a single tmux window, is it really worth breaking out into three files for such a small module or is this a rule that is really only applied at scale?</p>

<terraform><terraform-module>
Terraform single-file modules
ChrisW
# Terraform single-file modules

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-01-21)

I've been reading up the Terraform standard module structure and I see they want a main, outputs, and variables file in every one.

I have a pair of modules where everything fits in a single tmux window, is it really worth breaking out into three files for such a small module or is this a rule that is really only applied at scale?

**Tags:** terraform, terraform-module


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-03-02. Score: 3

While it's best practice to use `variables.tf` and `outputs.tf`, both variables and outputs can be declared in any file - so in a way it just boils down to both personal preference along with any formatting rules that may exist in your project or team.

Personally, I prefer to always use these files as it helps me keep things tidy and organized.


---

