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Infrastructure as code, often abbreviated as IaC, is the practice of managing and provisioning IT infrastructure through machine-readable definition files, rather than through physical hardware configuration or interactive configuration tools. This approach treats infrastructure components like servers, networks, and databases as code, allowing for automation, version control, and reproducibility.

IaC enables development teams to define infrastructure in a declarative or imperative manner. Declarative approaches focus on the desired end state, specifying what the infrastructure should look like, and the IaC tool figures out how to achieve it. Imperative approaches, on the other hand, detail the exact steps needed to set up or change the infrastructure.

Key benefits of IaC include increased speed and agility, as infrastructure can be deployed and modified rapidly. It also enhances consistency and reduces human error by eliminating manual configuration. Furthermore, IaC facilitates collaboration, as infrastructure definitions can be stored in version control systems like Git, allowing for peer review and tracking of changes. Disaster recovery and business continuity are also improved, as infrastructure can be quickly rebuilt from code in case of failure. Popular tools for implementing IaC include Terraform, Ansible, CloudFormation, and Pulumi.