Fn::ImportValue - AWS CloudFormation

Fn::ImportValue

The intrinsic function Fn::ImportValue returns the value of an output exported by another stack. You typically use this function to create cross-stack references. In the following example template snippets, Stack A exports VPC security group values and Stack B imports them.

Note

The following restrictions apply to cross-stack references:

  • For each AWS account, Export names must be unique within a Region.

  • You can't create cross-stack references across Regions. You can use the intrinsic function Fn::ImportValue to import only values that have been exported within the same Region.

  • For outputs, the value of the Name property of an Export can't use Ref or GetAtt functions that depend on a resource.

    Similarly, the ImportValue function can't include Ref or GetAtt functions that depend on a resource.

  • You can't delete a stack if another stack references one of its outputs.

  • You can't modify or remove an output value that is referenced by another stack.

JSON

Stack A Export

"Outputs" : { "PublicSubnet" : { "Description" : "The subnet ID to use for public web servers", "Value" : { "Ref" : "PublicSubnet" }, "Export" : { "Name" : {"Fn::Sub": "${AWS::StackName}-SubnetID" }} }, "WebServerSecurityGroup" : { "Description" : "The security group ID to use for public web servers", "Value" : { "Fn::GetAtt" : ["WebServerSecurityGroup", "GroupId"] }, "Export" : { "Name" : {"Fn::Sub": "${AWS::StackName}-SecurityGroupID" }} } }

YAML

Stack A Export

Outputs: PublicSubnet: Description: The subnet ID to use for public web servers Value: Ref: PublicSubnet Export: Name: 'Fn::Sub': '${AWS::StackName}-SubnetID' WebServerSecurityGroup: Description: The security group ID to use for public web servers Value: 'Fn::GetAtt': - WebServerSecurityGroup - GroupId Export: Name: 'Fn::Sub': '${AWS::StackName}-SecurityGroupID'

JSON

Stack B Import

"Resources" : { "WebServerInstance" : { "Type" : "AWS::EC2::Instance", "Properties" : { "InstanceType" : "t2.micro", "ImageId" : "ami-a1b23456", "NetworkInterfaces" : [{ "GroupSet" : [{"Fn::ImportValue" : {"Fn::Sub" : "${NetworkStackNameParameter}-SecurityGroupID"}}], "AssociatePublicIpAddress" : "true", "DeviceIndex" : "0", "DeleteOnTermination" : "true", "SubnetId" : {"Fn::ImportValue" : {"Fn::Sub" : "${NetworkStackNameParameter}-SubnetID"}} }] } } }

YAML

Stack B Import

Resources: WebServerInstance: Type: 'AWS::EC2::Instance' Properties: InstanceType: t2.micro ImageId: ami-a1b23456 NetworkInterfaces: - GroupSet: - Fn::ImportValue: 'Fn::Sub': '${NetworkStackNameParameter}-SecurityGroupID' AssociatePublicIpAddress: 'true' DeviceIndex: '0' DeleteOnTermination: 'true' SubnetId: Fn::ImportValue: 'Fn::Sub': '${NetworkStackNameParameter}-SubnetID'

Declaration

JSON

{ "Fn::ImportValue" : sharedValueToImport }

YAML

You can use the full function name:

Fn::ImportValue: sharedValueToImport

Alternatively, you can use the short form:

!ImportValue sharedValueToImport
Important

You can't use the short form of !ImportValue when it contains the short form of !Sub.

# do not use !ImportValue !Sub '${NetworkStack}-SubnetID'

Instead, you must use the full function name, for example:

Fn::ImportValue: !Sub "${NetworkStack}-SubnetID"

Parameters

sharedValueToImport

The stack output value that you want to import.

Return value

The stack output value.

Example

JSON

{ "Fn::ImportValue" : {"Fn::Sub": "${NetworkStackNameParameter}-SubnetID" } }

YAML

Fn::ImportValue: !Sub "${NetworkStackName}-SecurityGroupID"

Supported functions

You can use the following functions in the Fn::ImportValue function. The value of these functions can't depend on a resource.

  • Fn::Base64

  • Fn::FindInMap

  • Fn::If

  • Fn::Join

  • Fn::Select

  • Fn::Sub

  • Ref