What is the practice of managing and provisioning computing infrastructure through machine-readable definition files called?

The practice of managing and provisioning computing infrastructure through machine-readable definition files is known as Infrastructure as Code (IaC). This approach enables developers and system administrators to define the infrastructure in code, allowing for consistent and repeatable deployment of environments.

By using declarative or imperative syntax in configuration files, teams can maintain version control, automate setups, and reduce human error associated with manual configuration tasks. This practice aligns closely with DevOps principles, promoting collaboration between development and operations while ensuring that setups are reproducible across various environments.

Infrastructure as Code allows for scalability and agility in cloud environments, as it makes it easier to clone setups, modify configurations, and maintain infrastructure consistently across multiple stages of development and production. Furthermore, because the infrastructure is treated in a similar way to application code, it fosters better collaboration and integration within teams, increasing overall efficiency.