---
title: Variable without description
description: Datadog, the leading service for cloud-scale monitoring.
breadcrumbs: >-
  Docs > Datadog Security > Code Security > Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
  Security > IaC Security Rules > Variable without description
---

# Variable without description

{% callout %}
# Important note for users on the following Datadog sites: app.ddog-gov.com

{% alert level="danger" %}
This product is not supported for your selected [Datadog site](https://docs.datadoghq.com/getting_started/site). ().
{% /alert %}

{% /callout %}

## Metadata{% #metadata %}

**Id:** `2a153952-2544-4687-bcc9-cc8fea814a9b`

**Cloud Provider:** Common

**Platform:** Terraform

**Severity:** Low

**Category:** Best Practices

#### Learn More{% #learn-more %}

- [Provider Reference](https://www.terraform.io/docs/language/values/variables.html#input-variable-documentation)

### Description{% #description %}

All variables must include a `description` attribute that is defined, not null, and not empty or whitespace-only.

This rule reports:

- `MissingAttribute` when the `description` key is undefined or null.
- `IncorrectValue` when the `description` is present but empty after trimming.

Each result includes `documentId`, `resourceType`, `resourceName`, and `searchKey` to help locate the offending variable.

## Compliant Code Examples{% #compliant-code-examples %}

```terraform
variable "cluster_name" {
  default = "example"
  description = "cluster name"
  type    = string
}

resource "aws_eks_cluster" "negative1" {
  depends_on = [aws_cloudwatch_log_group.example]

  enabled_cluster_log_types = ["api", "audit", "authenticator", "controllerManager", "scheduler"]
  name                      = var.cluster_name
}
```

## Non-Compliant Code Examples{% #non-compliant-code-examples %}

```terraform
variable "cluster_name" {
  default = "example"
  type    = string
  description = " "
}

resource "aws_eks_cluster" "positive1" {
  depends_on = [aws_cloudwatch_log_group.example]
  name                      = var.cluster_name
}
```

```terraform
variable "cluster_name" {
  default = "example"
  type    = string
  description = ""
}

resource "aws_eks_cluster" "positive1" {
  depends_on = [aws_cloudwatch_log_group.example]
  name                      = var.cluster_name
}
```

```terraform
variable "cluster_name" {
  default = "example"
  type    = string
}

resource "aws_eks_cluster" "positive1" {
  depends_on = [aws_cloudwatch_log_group.example]
  name                      = var.cluster_name
}
```