# Resource Attribute Aliases

Resource Attribute Aliases let you define shorthand names and default values for resource properties, making your desired state templates shorter and more readable.

### Overview

When authoring desired state YAML, certain resource properties require long or hard-to-remember values (e.g., Azure VM image references, disk SKUs). Instead of looking these up every time, you can define aliases that map a friendly name to the actual value, and set default values for properties you use frequently.

### How It Works

Aliases are configured per **team**, **cloud provider**, and **resource type**. Each alias mapping has three fields:

| Field         | Description                                                                                 |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Attribute** | The resource property path (e.g., `storage_profile.image_reference`)                        |
| **Alias**     | A short, memorable name you can use in templates (e.g., `ubuntu-arm64`)                     |
| **Default**   | A default value applied automatically if the property is not specified in the desired state |

### Managing Aliases

Navigate to **Infrastructure → Stateless IaC Aliases** in the MechCloud console.

1. Select a **Team** and **Cloud Provider**
2. Click **New Alias** to create a mapping for a resource type
3. Define one or more attribute mappings with alias names and/or default values
4. Click **Save**

### Supported Providers

Aliases are available for all cloud providers that support Stateless IaC:

* **AWS** — e.g., AMI aliases (see [Resource Id Aliases](https://github.com/pistonportal/gitbook-mechcloud/blob/main/cloud-computing/stateless-iac/common-concepts.md#resource-id-aliases) for the `{{Image|alias}}` syntax)
* **Azure** — e.g., VM image references, disk types, VM sizes
* **GCP** — e.g., machine types, disk types, image families

### Benefits

* **Shorter templates** — Replace verbose property values with short alias names
* **Consistency** — Default values ensure all resources of a type use the same base configuration
* **Less errors** — No need to look up exact values for common properties
* **Team-scoped** — Each team can define their own aliases matching their standards


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