# What Happens Without moved — Terraform

Source: https://www.skillbyai.com/en/terraform/r-nomoved

> A rename that would replace the resource.

## Destroy plus create

Without a moved block, renaming the same resource produces a plan to destroy the old address and create the new one. For a file that is harmless; for a database, load balancer or DNS zone it means downtime or data loss. Always read the plan after refactors: an unexpected destroy and create pair with the same arguments is a sign you forgot a moved block.

## The same rename without a moved block, run

I ran this with Terraform 1.16.4 and the hashicorp/local 2.9.1 and hashicorp/random 3.9.1 providers, which manage local files and random values, so no cloud account was needed; each example starts from a fresh directory. Renaming without moved plans to create local_file.app_config and destroy local_file.cfg: 1 to add and 1 to destroy.

```bash
terraform plan -no-color | grep -E "will be|Plan:"
```

Output:

```
  # local_file.app_config will be created
  # local_file.cfg will be destroyed
Plan: 1 to add, 0 to change, 1 to destroy.
```

## Look for destroy/create pairs

Matching destroy and create entries after a refactor almost always mean a missing moved block.

**Quiz:** Renaming a resource without moved leads to what plan?

- [ ] No changes
- [x] Destroy the old address and create the new one
- [ ] An in-place update
- [ ] An error that blocks all plans

*Answer:* Destroy the old address and create the new one. Addresses identify resources.