> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://notes.kodekloud.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Resource Targeting

> Learn to use resource targeting with OpenTofu’s commands to update individual resources without affecting the rest of your infrastructure.

In this lesson, you'll learn how to use resource targeting with OpenTofu’s `plan` and `apply` commands to update individual resources without affecting the rest of your infrastructure.

## Example Configuration

Below is a sample HCL configuration that generates a random string and launches an AWS EC2 instance tagged with that string:

```hcl theme={null}
resource "random_string" "server-suffix" {
  length  = 6
  upper   = false
  special = false
}

resource "aws_instance" "web" {
  ami           = "ami-06178cf087598769c"
  instance_type = "m5.large"
  tags = {
    Name = "web-${random_string.server-suffix.id}"
  }
}
```

<Callout icon="lightbulb" color="#1CB2FE">
  The `aws_instance.web` resource uses the interpolation `${random_string.server-suffix.id}` to append the generated suffix to the **Name** tag.
</Callout>

## Applying Changes Normally

If you change the random string’s length from `6` to `5` and run:

```bash theme={null}
$ tofu apply
```

OpenTofu will plan and apply updates for both resources because the EC2 tag depends on the random string:

```plaintext theme={null}
Plan: 1 to add, 1 to change, 1 to destroy.

Enter a value: yes
random_string.server-suffix: Destroying... [id=6r923x]
random_string.server-suffix: Creation complete after 0s [id=nglmpo]
aws_instance.web: Modifying... [id=i-67428769e06ae2901]
Apply complete! Resources: 1 added, 1 changed, 1 destroyed.
```

## Targeting a Single Resource

To update only the random string and leave the EC2 instance untouched, use the `-target` flag:

```bash theme={null}
$ tofu apply -target=random_string.server-suffix
```

OpenTofu will generate a plan for just that resource:

```plaintext theme={null}
OpenTofu will perform the following actions:

  # random_string.server-suffix must be replaced
-/+ resource "random_string" "server-suffix" {
    ~ id      = "bl12qd" -> (known after apply)
    ~ length  = 6 -> 5 # forces replacement
}

Plan: 1 to add, 0 to change, 1 to destroy.

Warning: Resource targeting is in effect

Enter a value: yes
random_string.server-suffix: Destroying... [id=6r923x]
random_string.server-suffix: Creation complete after 0s [id=nglmpo]

Warning: Applied changes may be incomplete
Apply complete! Resources: 1 added, 0 changed, 1 destroyed.
```

<Callout icon="triangle-alert" color="#FF6B6B">
  Using resource targeting can leave your state incomplete. Reserve this feature for urgent fixes or small, isolated changes.
</Callout>

## CLI Commands Reference

| Command                                     | Description                                  |
| ------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| `tofu plan`                                 | Preview all changes before applying them     |
| `tofu apply`                                | Apply all planned changes                    |
| `tofu apply -target=<RESOURCE_TYPE>.<NAME>` | Apply changes only to the specified resource |

## Links and References

* [OpenTofu Documentation](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu)
* [AWS EC2 Overview](https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/)
* [Terraform Random Provider](https://registry.terraform.io/providers/hashicorp/random/latest)

<CardGroup>
  <Card title="Watch Video" icon="video" cta="Learn more" href="https://learn.kodekloud.com/user/courses/opentofu-a-beginners-guide-to-a-terraform-fork-including-migration-from-terraform/module/c3586b29-e450-4c95-bad9-91bdf332eb24/lesson/707a39e7-31dc-43f6-ba9d-40a3df9366be" />
</CardGroup>