ARM template resources section in Azure - Step-by-Step Execution

Process Flow - ARM template resources section

Start ARM Template

↓

Parse 'resources' array

↓

For each resource in array

↓

Validate resource properties

↓

Deploy resource

↓

Repeat for next resource

↓

End deployment

The ARM template processes the 'resources' array one by one, validating and deploying each resource in order.

Execution Sample

Azure

{
  "resources": [
    {
      "type": "Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts",
      "name": "mystorageaccount",
      "apiVersion": "2022-09-01",
      "location": "eastus",
      "sku": {
        "name": "Standard_LRS"
      },
      "kind": "StorageV2",
      "properties": {}
    }
  ]
}

This snippet defines a storage account resource to be deployed in the 'resources' section of an ARM template.

Process Table

Step	Action	Resource Name	Resource Type	Validation Result	Deployment Status
1	Parse 'resources' array	-	-	-	-
2	Select first resource	mystorageaccount	Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts	-	-
3	Validate resource properties	mystorageaccount	Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts	Valid	-
4	Deploy resource	mystorageaccount	Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts	Valid	Deployed
5	No more resources	-	-	-	Deployment complete

💡 All resources processed and deployed successfully.

Status Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 2	After Step 3	After Step 4	Final
resources	[{storageAccount}]	[{storageAccount}]	[{storageAccount}]	[{storageAccount}]	[{storageAccount}]
currentResource	null	{storageAccount}	{storageAccount}	null	null
validationStatus	null	null	Valid	Valid	Valid
deploymentStatus	null	null	null	Deployed	Deployed

Key Moments - 2 Insights

Why does the deploymentStatus change only after validation?

Because the ARM template must first confirm the resource properties are valid before deploying, as shown in steps 3 and 4 of the execution_table.

What happens if there are multiple resources in the 'resources' array?

The template processes each resource one by one in order, repeating steps 2 to 4 for each resource until all are deployed, as indicated by the loop in the concept_flow.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution_table, what is the validationStatus at Step 3?

A null

B Valid

C Invalid

D Deployed

💡 Hint

Check the 'validationStatus' column at Step 3 in the execution_table.

At which step does the resource deployment happen?

A Step 4

B Step 2

C Step 3

D Step 5

💡 Hint

Look for 'Deploy resource' action in the execution_table.

If a second resource was added, how would the execution_table change?

A Validation would be skipped for the second resource.

B Deployment would stop after the first resource.

C Steps 2 to 4 would repeat for the second resource before Step 5.

D Step 5 would occur before deploying the second resource.

💡 Hint

Refer to the concept_flow showing the loop over each resource.

Concept Snapshot

ARM template 'resources' section:
- Contains an array of resource objects.
- Each resource has 'type', 'name', 'apiVersion', 'location', and 'properties'.
- ARM processes each resource sequentially: validate then deploy.
- Deployment stops only after all resources are processed.
- Proper validation ensures successful deployment.

Full Transcript

The ARM template's resources section is an array listing all resources to deploy. The deployment engine reads this array, picks each resource, checks its properties for correctness, and then deploys it. This process repeats until all resources are deployed. The execution table shows these steps clearly: parsing the array, selecting a resource, validating it, deploying it, and then finishing when no resources remain. Variables like currentResource, validationStatus, and deploymentStatus track progress. Understanding this flow helps beginners see how ARM templates manage infrastructure deployment step-by-step.