terraform meta-arguments ai_generated true

Error: Invalid count argument: count.index is not valid in this context

ID: terraform/invalid-count-argument

Also available as: JSON · Markdown
95%Fix Rate
96%Confidence
50Evidence
2023-01-01First Seen

Version Compatibility

VersionStatusIntroducedDeprecatedNotes
115 active — — —

Root Cause

Using count.index outside of a resource that has count, or mixing count with for_each.

generic

Workarounds

  1. 93% success Use for_each with a map/set instead of count for complex scenarios 
    for_each provides each.key and each.value for more control

    Sources: https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/language/meta-arguments/for_each

  2. 95% success Ensure count is set on the resource block before using count.index 
    count.index is only valid inside resources/modules with count defined

Dead Ends

Common approaches that don't work:

  1. Using both count and for_each on the same resource 90% fail

    Terraform doesn't allow both; pick one

  2. Setting count = 0 to skip the resource 55% fail

    Works but prevents use of count.index in any expressions

Error Chain

Frequently confused with: