composition.md

title	Understand composition
description	Follow a load balancer's implementation members while preserving each instance and unresolved evidence.

Some architectural objects are implemented by several Terraform instances. The Google application load balancer starts at a forwarding rule, follows its HTTPS proxy, then its URL map and default backend service. Composition records those parts on each root instance instead of guessing a group from their names.

This is the official application load balancer Rule:

rule "application-load-balancer" {
  match {
    type = "google_compute_global_forwarding_rule"
  }

  as = concept.load-balancer

  composition {
    member "target-https-proxy" {
      via = source.target

      match {
        type = "google_compute_target_https_proxy"
      }
    }

    member "url-map" {
      via = member.target-https-proxy.url_map

      match {
        type = "google_compute_url_map"
      }
    }

    member "backend-service" {
      via = member.url-map.default_service

      match {
        type = "google_compute_backend_service"
      }
    }
  }
}

The Google Dialect defines the local concept.load-balancer. The root's as classifies the forwarding-rule instance; members do not inherit that Concept.

Follow the evidence in order

source.target reads the root's target. Once target-https-proxy is established, member.target-https-proxy.url_map reads that member to find the next one. Inside a member's match.where, however, source means the candidate member.

Known values can match the identity attributes of Rules interpreting member candidates. A verified saved-plan reference can establish a member whose own type has no Rule, specifically through its id endpoint. That exception serves composition; an ordinary fact target still needs an applied Rule satisfying to. Members are resolved independently for each root instance and stage.

Keep unresolved parts visible

If the proxy cannot be established, its dependent URL map and backend service remain unresolved. An independent later member may still resolve. The root keeps its Rule, classification and emissions, alongside member reasons.

Every member keeps its own Representation. Composition does not emit a Relation, apply the root Rule to its members, or merge their identities. Use a separate emission when evidence also supports a distinct architectural connection. RF has no optional member or alternative-member syntax.

See Composition reference for member order, matching and reasons. Policies over facts explains which architectural facts Policies can query; composition is not a Policy query.