What are loops in Ansible and how do I use them?

What are loops in Ansible and how do I use them?

Loops in Ansible allow you to iterate over a list of items, executing a task for each item. You can use the with_items directive or the loop keyword.

Can you give me an example of using a loop in an Ansible playbook?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

- name: Install multiple packages
  apt:
    name: '{{ item }}'
    state: present
  loop:
    - git
    - curl
    - vim

What is the difference between with_items and loop?

with_items is an older syntax for looping, while loop is the newer, more flexible syntax. It's recommended to use loop for better readability and functionality.

Can I use loops with conditionals in Ansible?

Yes, you can combine loops with conditionals using the when clause to control task execution based on certain conditions.