There are three module types that can be either imported or included which are: import\/include_task, import\/include_role, or import\/include_playbook.
\nWhile these are mostly the same there are some subtle differences…so subtle in fact that I couldn’t really figure out what the difference was, so why not share what I’ve learned \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n
So the textbook difference between the two is that: I’m not sure how this reads to you, but my understanding was that variables and the like would be interpreted strangely for imports…kind of like whatever the value of a variable was at load would somehow dictate their inclusion or reaction…which was wrong. Here’s a playbook I wrote to try and test:<\/p>\n Here are the two task files it calls(really they are just spitting out debug info…nothing special here):<\/p>\n I was thinking that in the above example it wouldn’t run any of the imports(as at runtime the variable would have been set incorrectly). Take a look at the job output, though:<\/p>\n
\nImport<\/strong> is static. This means they are fully loaded before playbook execution begins.
\nInclude<\/strong> is dynamic. This means they are parsed during execution as they are reached.<\/p>\n# playbook.yml\r\n---\r\n- name: A demo on using include vs import in Ansible with incorrect info\r\n hosts: localhost\r\n gather_facts: false\r\n vars:\r\n testvar: "Initial Value" # Initial value for the variable\r\n tasks:\r\n - name: Display initial testvar value\r\n ansible.builtin.debug:\r\n msg: "Before import_tasks and include_tasks: testvar is {{ testvar }}"\r\n\r\n - name: Use import_tasks (static)\r\n import_tasks: tasks\/import-tasks.yml\r\n\r\n - name: Update testvar to "Updated Value"\r\n set_fact:\r\n testvar: "Updated Value"\r\n\r\n - name: Use include_tasks (dynamic)\r\n include_tasks: tasks\/include-tasks.yml\r\n\r\n - name: Re-run import_tasks after update\r\n import_tasks: tasks\/import-tasks.yml<\/code><\/pre>\n# tasks\/import-tasks.yml\r\n- name: Import Task Display testvar if it is "Updated Value"\r\n ansible.builtin.debug:\r\n msg: "Import Task: testvar is {{ testvar }}"\r\n when: testvar == "Updated Value"<\/code><\/pre>\n# tasks\/include-tasks.yml\r\n- name: Include Task Display testvar if it is "Updated Value"\r\n ansible.builtin.debug:\r\n msg: "Include Task: testvar is {{ testvar }}"\r\n when: testvar == "Updated Value"<\/code><\/pre>\nPLAY [A demo on using include vs import in Ansible with incorrect info] ********\r\nTASK [Display initial testvar value] *******************************************\r\nok: [localhost] => {\r\n "msg": "Before import_tasks and include_tasks: testvar is Initial Value"\r\n}\r\nTASK [Import Task Display testvar if it is "Updated Value"] ********************\r\nskipping: [localhost]\r\nTASK [Update testvar to "Updated Value"] ***************************************\r\nok: [localhost]\r\nTASK [Use include_tasks (dynamic)] *********************************************\r\nincluded: \/runner\/project\/tasks\/include-tasks.yml for localhost\r\nTASK [Include Task Display testvar if it is "Updated Value"] *******************<\/code><\/pre>\n