What is Infrastructure as Code and why do we use it?

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is the practice of managing and provisioning computing infrastructure through machine‑readable definition files rather than manual processes. Tools like Terraform, CloudFormation, and Ansible allow teams to version, test, and reuse infrastructure configurations just like application code. IaC brings several benefits: reproducibility (the same environment can be recreated reliably), version control (changes are tracked and auditable), automation (reducing human error), and faster deployment (infrastructure can be spun up in minutes). It also supports immutable infrastructure patterns, where servers are replaced rather than patched, improving consistency across environments. In a DevOps culture, IaC is essential for continuous delivery pipelines, enabling rapid scaling, disaster recovery, and compliance enforcement through code.