Azure Bicep Cheat Sheet

Azure Bicep has become my preferred tool for writing infrastructure-as-code for Azure, thanks to its modularity and effortless adaptability. This repository serves as a handy cheat sheet, offering code snippets and references for Azure Bicep.

Note

Community contributions are welcome :-)! If you have content that you want to add, please add it to the cheat sheet using a pull request.

What is a cheat sheet?

A cheat sheet is a concise set of notes or a reference guide used for quick retrieval of essential information. It"s often a single page that contains summaries, commands, formulas, or procedures that someone might need to reference frequently, especially when learning a new topic or skill.

What is Azure Bicep?

Azure Bicep is a domain-specific language (also known as DSL) designed by Microsoft for defining and deploying Azure resources in a declarative manner. It"s the next generation of Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates, offering a cleaner syntax, improved type safety, and better support for modularization. While ARM templates use JSON syntax, Bicep uses a more concise syntax that aims to make it easier for developers to author and maintain Azure deployments.

Topics

Note

Click the arrow next to a topic to expand its content.

Basics

Declarations of new and existing resources, variables, parameters and outputs, etcetera.

Create a resource

resource resourceName "ResourceType@version" = {
  name: "exampleResourceName"
  properties: {
    // resource properties here
  }
}

Create a child resource

Via name

resource resVnet "Microsoft.Network/virtualNetworks@2022-01-01" = {
  name: "my-vnet"
}

resource resChildSubnet "Microsoft.Network/virtualNetworks/subnets@2022-01-01" = {
  name: "${resVnet}/my-subnet"
}

Via parent property

resource resVnet "Microsoft.Network/virtualNetworks@2022-01-01" = {
  name: "my-vnet"
}

resource resChildSubnet "Microsoft.Network/virtualNetworks/subnets@2022-01-01" = {
  name: "my-subnet"
  parent: resVnet
}

Via parent resource

resource resVnet "Microsoft.Network/virtualNetworks@2022-01-01" = {
  name: "my-vnet"

  resource resChildSubnet "subnets" = {
    name: "my-subnet"
  }
}

Reference to an existing resource

resource resKeyVaultRef "Microsoft.KeyVault/vaults@2019-09-01" = existing {
  name: "myExistingKeyVaultName"
}

Access a nested resource (::)

resource resVnet "Microsoft.Network/virtualNetworks@2022-01-01" existing = {
  name: "my-vnet"
  resource resChildSubnet "subnets" existing = {
    name: "my-subnet"
  }
}

// access child resource
output outChildSubnetId string = resVnet::resChildSubnet.id

Declare a variable

var varEnvironment = "dev"

There is no need to declare a datatype for a variable, because the type is inferred from the value.

Declare a parameter

param parStorageAccountName string
param parLocation string = resourceGroup().location

Available datatypes are: string, bool, int, object, array and custom (user defined type).

Declare a secure parameter

@secure()
param parSecureParameter string

Declare an output

resource resPublicIp "Microsoft.Network/publicIPAddresses@2023-02-01" ={
  name: parPublicIpName
  tags: parTags
  location: parLocation
  zones: parAvailabilityZones
  sku: parPublicIpSku
  properties: parPublicIpProperties
}

output outPublicIpId string = resPublicIp.id
output outMyString string = "Hello!"

Available datatypes are: string, bool, int, object, array and custom (user defined type).

String interpolation

var varGreeting = "Hello"
output outResult string = "${varGreeting} World"

Multi-line strings

var varMultiLineString = """
  This is a
  Muli-line string
  variable.
"""

Modules

Split your deployment into smaller, reusable components.

Create a module

module modVirtualNetwork "./network.bicep" = {
  name: "networkModule"
  params: {
    parLocation: "westeurope"
    parVnetName: "my-vnet-name"
  }
}

Reference to a module using a bicep registry

module modBicepRegistryReference "br/<bicep registry name>:<file path>:<tag>" = {
  name: "deployment-name"
  params: {}
}

Conditions

Resource definitions based on conditions.

If condition

param parDeployResource bool

resource resDnsZone "Microsoft.Network/dnszones@2018-05-01" = if (parDeployResource) {
  name: "myZone"
  location: "global"
}

Ternary if/else condition

param parEnvironment string

var varSku = parEnvironment == "prod" ? "premium" : "standard"

Loops

Loop constructions.

foreach using an array

param parStorageAccountNames array = [
  "storageaccount1"
  "storageaccount2"
  "storageaccount3"
]

resource resStorageAccounts "Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts@2021-04-01" = [for name in parStorageAccountNames: {
  name: name
  location: "westeurope"
  kind: "StorageV2"
  sku: {
    name: "Standard_LRS"
  }
}]

foreach using an array of objects

param parStorageAccountNames array = [
  {
    name: "storageaccount1"
    kind: "StorageV2"
    sku: {
      name: "Standard_LRS"
    }
  }
  {
    name: "storageaccount2"
    kind: "StorageV2"
    sku: {
      name: "Standard_LRS"
    }
  }
]

resource resStorageAccounts "Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts@2021-04-01" = [for storageAccount in parStorageAccountNames: {
  name: storageAccount.name
  location: "westeurope"
  kind: storageAccount.kind
  sku: {
    name: storageAccount.sku
  }
}]

Data manipulation

Functions used to manipulate data.

Example data

var varGroceryStore = [
  {
    productName: "Icecream"
    productPrice: 2
    productCharacteristics: [
      "Vegan"
      "Seasonal"
    ]
  }
  {
    productName: "Banana"
    productPrice: 4
    productCharacteristics: [
      "Bio"
    ]
  }
]

filter() function

  output outProducts array = filter(varGroceryStore, item => item.productPrice >= 4)

returns

[
  {
    "productName": "Banana",
    "productPrice": 4,
    "productCharacteristics": [
      "Bio"
    ]
  }
]

map() function

output outDiscount array = map(range(0, length(varGroceryStore)), item => {
  productNumber: item
  productName: varGroceryStore[item].productName
  discountedPrice: "The item ${varGroceryStore[item].productName} is on sale. Sale price: ${(varGroceryStore[item].productPrice / 2)}"
})

returns

[
  {
    "productNumber": 0,
    "productName": "Icecream",
    "discountedPrice": "The item Icecream is on sale. Sale price: 1"
  },
  {
    "productNumber": 1,
    "productName": "Banana",
    "discountedPrice": "The item Banana is on sale. Sale price: 2"
  }
]

sort() function

output outUsingSort array = sort(varGroceryStore, (a, b) => a.productPrice <= b.productPrice)

returns

[
  {
    "productName": "Icecream",
    "productPrice": 2,
    "productCharacteristics": [
      "Vegan"
      "Seasonal"
    ]
  },
  {
    "productName": "Banana",
    "productPrice": 4,
    "productCharacteristics": [
      "Bio"
    ]
  }
]

User Defined Types

Define custom complex data structures.

Primitive types

// a string type with two allowed strings ("Standard_LRS" or "Standard_GRS")
type skuType = "Standard_LRS" | "Standard_GRS"

// an integer type with one allowed value (1337)
type integerType = 1337

// an boolean type with one allowed value (true)
type booleanType = true

// Reference the type
param parMyStringType skuType
param parMyIntType integerType
param parMyBoolType booleanType

A custom type that enforced an array with a specific object structure

type arrayWithObjectsType = {
  name: string
  age: int
}[]

param parCustomArray arrayWithObjectsType = [
  {
    name: "John"
    age: 30
  }
]

Optional properties in objects (using ?)

type arrayWithObjectsType = {
  name: string
  age: int
  hasChildren: bool?
  hasPets: bool?
}[]

param parCustomArray arrayWithObjectsType = [
  {
    name: "John"
    age: 30
  }
  {
    name: "Jane"
    age: 31
    hasPets: true
  }
  {
    name: "Jack"
    age: 45
    hasChildren: true
    hasPets: true
  }
]

User Defined Functions

Define custom complex expressions.

User-defined function syntax

func <function-name> (<parameter-name> <data-type>) <return-type> => <expression>

Basic user-defined function

func funcSayHelloTo() string => "Hello and welcome, John Doe"

User-defined function with parameters

func funcSayHelloTo(name string) string => "Hello and welcome, ${name}"

With multiple parameters:

func funcPersonNameAndAge(name string, age int) string => "My name is ${name} and my age is ${age}"

User-defined function return types

func funcReturnTypeArray() array => [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
func funcReturnTypeObject() object => {name: "John Doe", age: 31}
func funcReturnTypeInt() int => 1337
func funcReturnTypeBool(key string) bool => contains({}, key)
func funcReturnTypeUserDefinedType() customTypeUsedAsReturnType => {
  hello: "world"
}

type customTypeUsedAsReturnType = {
  hello: string
}

Compile-time imports

Import and export() enable reuse of user-defined types variables, functions.
Supported in Bicep and Bicepparam files.

export() decorator (shared.bicep)

@export()
var region = "we"

@export()
type tagsType = {
  Environment: "Prod" | "Dev" | "QA" | "Stage" | "Test"
  CostCenter: string
  Owner: string
  BusinessUnit: string
  *: string
}

import statement

import { region, tagsType } from "shared.bicep"

output outRegion string = region
output outTags tagsType = {
  Environment: "Dev"
  CostCenter: "12345"
  BusinessUnit: "IT"
  Owner: "John Lokerse"
}

import statement with alias

using "keyVault.bicep"
import { region as importRegion } from "shared.bicep"

param parKeyVaultName = "kv-${importRegion}-${uniqueString(importRegion)}"

import statement using a wildcard

import * as shared from "shared.bicep"

output outRegion string = shared.region
output outTags shared.tagsType = {
  Environment: "Dev"
  CostCenter: "12345"
  BusinessUnit: "IT"
  Owner: "John Lokerse"
}

Networking

CIDR functions to make subnetting easier.

parseCidr() function

output outParseCidrInformation object = parseCidr("192.168.1.0/24")

returns

"outParseCidrInformation": {
  "type": "Object",
  "value": {
    "broadcast": "192.168.1.255",
    "cidr": 24,
    "firstUsable": "192.168.1.1",
    "lastUsable": "192.168.1.254",
    "netmask": "255.255.255.0",
    "network": "192.168.1.0"
  }
}

cidrSubnet() function

output outCidrSubnet string = cidrSubnet("192.168.1.0/24", 25, 0)

returns

"outCidrSubnet": {
  "type": "String",
  "value": "192.168.1.0/25"
}

cidrHost() function

output outCidrHost array = [for i in range(0, 10): cidrHost("192.168.1.0/24", i)]

returns

"outCidrHost": {
  "type": "Array",
  "value": [
    "192.168.1.1",
    "192.168.1.2",
    "192.168.1.3",
    "192.168.1.4",
    "192.168.1.5",
    "192.168.1.6",
    "192.168.1.7",
    "192.168.1.8",
    "192.168.1.9",
    "192.168.1.10"
  ]
}

Bicepconfig

Customize your Bicep development experience.

Azure Container Registry configuration

{
  "moduleAliases": {
    "br": {
      "<bicep registry name>": {
        "registry": "<url to registry>",
        "modulePath": "<module path of the alias>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Dependencies

Implicit and explicit dependencies.

Implicit dependency using symbolic name

resource resNetworkSecurityGroup "Microsoft.Network/networkSecurityGroups@2019-11-01" = {
  name: "my-networkSecurityGroup"
  location: resourceGroup().location
}

resource nsgRule "Microsoft.Network/networkSecurityGroups/securityRules@2019-11-01" = {
  name: "${resNetworkSecurityGroup}/AllowAllRule"
  properties: {
    // resource properties here
  }
}

Explicit dependency using dependsOn

resource resDnsZone "Microsoft.Network/dnsZones@2018-05-01" = {
  name: "contoso.com"
  location: "global"
}

module modVirtualNetwork "./network.bicep" = {
  name: "networkModule"
  params: {
    parLocation: "westeurope"
    parVnetName: "my-vnet-name"
  }
  dependsOn: [
    resDnsZone
  ]
}

Deployment

Orchestration commands to deploy Azure Bicep to your Azure Environment.

Azure CLI

Scope	Command
resourceGroup	`az deployment group create --resource-group ResourceGroupName --template-file template.bicep --parameters parameters.bicepparam`
subscription	`az deployment sub create --location location --template-file template.bicep --parameters parameters.bicepparam`
managementGroup	`az deployment mg create --management-group-id ManagementGroupId --template-file template.bicep --parameters parameters.bicepparam`
tenant	`az deployment tenant create --location location --template-file template.bicep --parameters parameters.bicepparam`

Azure PowerShell

Scope	Command
resourceGroup	`New-AzResourceGroupDeployment -ResourceGroupName "ResourceGroupName" -TemplateFile "template.bicep" -TemplateParameterFile "parameters.bicepparam`
subscription	`New-AzDeployment -Location "Location" -TemplateFile "template.bicep" -TemplateParameterFile "parameters.bicepparam"`
managementGroup	`New-AzManagementGroupDeployment -ManagementGroupId "ManagementGroupId" -Location "location" -TemplateFile "template.bicep" -TemplateParameterFile "parameters.bicepparam"`
tenant	`New-AzTenantDeployment -Location "Location" -TemplateFile "template.bicep" -TemplateParameterFile "parameters.bicepparam"`

Target Scopes

Deployment scope definitions.

Target scopes

The targetScope directive in Azure Bicep determines the level at which the Bicep template will be deployed within Azure. The default is targetScope = "resourceGroup".

Azure Bicep supports multiple levels of targetScope:

Scope	Description
resourceGroup	The Bicep file is intended to be deployed at the Resource Group level.
subscription	The Bicep file targets a Subscription, allowing you to manage resources or configurations across an entire subscription.
managementGroup	For managing resources or configurations across multiple subscriptions under a specific Management Group.
tenant	The highest scope, targeting the entire Azure tenant. This is useful for certain global resources or policies.

targetScope = "resourceGroup"

resource resKeyVault "Microsoft.KeyVault/vaults@2019-09-01" = {
  // key vault properties here
}

Use the scope property on modules to deploy on a different scope than the target scope:

// Uses the targetScope
module modStorageModule1 "storage.bicep" = {
  name: "storageModule1"
}

// Uses the scope of the module
module modStorageModule2 "storage.bicep" = {
  name: "storageModule2"
  scope: resourceGroup("other-subscription-id", "other-resource-group-name")
  // module properties here
}

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Azure Bicep Cheat Sheet

What is a cheat sheet?

What is Azure Bicep?

Topics

Create a resource

Create a child resource

Via name

Via parent property

Via parent resource

Reference to an existing resource

Access a nested resource (::)

Declare a variable

Declare a parameter

Declare a secure parameter

Declare an output

String interpolation

Multi-line strings

Create a module

Reference to a module using a bicep registry

If condition

Ternary if/else condition

foreach using an array

foreach using an array of objects

Example data

filter() function

returns

map() function

returns

sort() function

returns

Primitive types

A custom type that enforced an array with a specific object structure

Optional properties in objects (using ?)

User-defined function syntax

Basic user-defined function

User-defined function with parameters

User-defined function return types

export() decorator (shared.bicep)

import statement

import statement with alias

import statement using a wildcard

parseCidr() function

returns

cidrSubnet() function

returns

cidrHost() function

returns

Azure Container Registry configuration

Implicit dependency using symbolic name

Explicit dependency using dependsOn

Azure CLI

Azure PowerShell

Target scopes

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