How to Create a Folder in an AWS S3 Bucket Using Terraform

TLDR

To create a folder in an AWS S3 bucket using Terraform, use the aws_s3_object resource with a trailing slash (/) in the key name. This creates a folder-like structure in the bucket.

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AWS S3 is an object storage service that doesn't have a native concept of folders. However, you can simulate folders by creating objects with keys that include a trailing slash (/). This guide will show you how to create a folder in an S3 bucket using Terraform.

Why Create Folders in S3?

• Organization: Group related objects together for better management.
• Access Control: Apply permissions to specific prefixes (folders).
• Integration: Many tools and services expect folder-like structures in S3.

Steps to Create a Folder

To create a folder in an AWS S3 bucket using Terraform, you can follow these steps. This example assumes you have basic knowledge of Terraform and AWS.

Step 1: Define the S3 Bucket

Start by creating an S3 bucket if it doesn't already exist.

resource "aws_s3_bucket" "example" {
  bucket = "example-bucket"
  acl    = "private"
}

Step 2: Create the Folder

Use the aws_s3_object resource to create a folder by specifying a key with a trailing slash.

resource "aws_s3_object" "example_folder" {
  bucket = aws_s3_bucket.example.bucket
  key    = "my-folder/"
  acl    = "private"
}

Verifying the Folder

After applying the Terraform configuration, you can verify the folder in the AWS Management Console or using the AWS CLI:

aws s3 ls s3://example-bucket/

You should see the folder my-folder/ listed.

Best Practices

• Use Descriptive Names: Name your folders clearly to indicate their purpose.
• Apply Access Controls: Use S3 bucket policies or IAM policies to restrict access to specific folders.
• Organize by Prefix: Group related objects under a common prefix for easier management.

By following these steps, you can create folder-like structures in AWS S3 buckets using Terraform, making your object storage more organized and easier to manage.