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Configuration, in computing, refers to the arrangement of a system's components and settings that determine its behavior and capabilities. This includes software options, environment variables, hardware parameters, network addresses, and service dependencies. Configurations are typically captured in files or databases and are intended to be reproducible across similar environments (development, testing, production).

Configuration management is the discipline of maintaining consistent configuration states over time. It addresses drift, which occurs when systems diverge from a defined baseline, and aims for versionable, auditable changes. Practices include defining a desired state using declarative languages, applying changes automatically, and verifying that systems match the intended configuration.

Common approaches include manual edits, templates, or declarative models. Tools like Ansible, Puppet, Chef, SaltStack, Terraform, and Kubernetes manifests express configuration as code and support idempotence, where repeated applications do not change the result beyond the initial application.

Files and formats for configuration data can be stored in YAML, JSON, TOML, INI, XML, or shell scripts, with the choice depending on ecosystem and tooling. Configuration management also involves secrets handling, validation, and change governance.

Benefits of effective configuration management include reproducibility, consistency across environments, and easier troubleshooting. Challenges include managing complexity, ensuring security, and preventing drift without robust controls.