Invalid character / Argument or block definition required Terraform Origin: Platform & cloud OSI layer 7 · Application Last updated 5 Nov 2026

Terraform: Error: Invalid character — This character is not used within the language / Error: Argument or block definition required

The .tf file has HCL syntax errors (stray characters, bad quotes, missing braces/commas).

Exact message you may see Error: Invalid characterThis character is not used within the languageError: Argument or block definition requiredAn argument or block definition is required hereError: Invalid expression Expected the start of an expression, but found an invalid expression token
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Seen on: Terraform

Meaning

The error gives file/line/column. Common: curly quotes pasted from docs (“ ”), missing =, JSON-style colons, trailing commas, unclosed braces, using : instead of =, or interpolation syntax errors. Run terraform fmt and terraform validate; editors with HCL plugins highlight issues.

Common causes

  • Smart quotes copied from web/docs
  • Missing = or braces
  • JSON syntax inside HCL
  • Unescaped ${ in strings ($${)
  • Wrong block nesting

⚡ Quick fix

  1. Replace smart quotes with straight quotes
  2. terraform fmt -check -diff && terraform validate
  3. Fix the line/column named

Detailed fix by platform

Terraform

  1. terraform fmt -check -diff && terraform validate

How to diagnose

  1. Line — File and line?
  2. Quotes — Straight?
  3. Syntax — HCL?

🔧 Still not fixed?

Many errors look alike. If the steps above didn’t solve it, one of these is probably what you’re facing:

Where this error sits

Origin: Platform & cloud. Errors that are often confused with or caused by this one (click to open):

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