What does resource tagging in AWS accomplish?

Resource tagging in AWS is a powerful feature that allows users to assign metadata to their AWS resources in the form of key-value pairs. This capability enhances the ability to categorize and manage resources effectively, which is crucial for maintaining organization within a cloud environment. By tagging resources, organizations can easily identify, track, and manage their AWS usage according to various criteria such as purpose, department, or environment (e.g., development, testing, production).

This structured organization assists in various administrative tasks, including billing management, resource tracking, and access control. For instance, you can filter resources in the AWS Management Console or automate certain actions based on tags using AWS services like AWS Lambda or AWS CloudFormation.

Moreover, resource tagging can help in cost allocation by associating specific resources with different cost centers, making it easier to analyze and understand expenditures across your organization. Overall, the primary accomplishment of resource tagging is to facilitate better identification and organization of resources, which streamlines cloud management and enhances operational efficiency.