Most discussions about variable naming focus on readability.
That misses the deeper issue.
In Terraform, names are part of the system’s identity.
They determine how meaning flows through the dependency graph, how intent survives refactors, and how safely values move across files, modules, and state.
Terraform will accept almost any name without complaint.
The graph will still be correct.
Plans will still be deterministic.
But when names are vague, the system quietly asks humans to remember what the machine cannot infer.
This lesson explores variable naming as an architectural concern, not a stylistic one.
You’ll see how names act as contracts, how they preserve intent over time, and why good naming makes future changes safer without enforcing rules.
No commands.
No usage patterns.
Just the mental model that explains why naming matters long after the syntax is forgotten.