If you’re new to Amazon Web Services (AWS), you may have come across the term “Amazon Resource Name” or ARN. But what exactly is an ARN and how do you find yours? In this article, we’ll break down the basics of ARNs and how to locate yours.
What is an ARN?
An Amazon Resource Name (ARN) is a unique identifier assigned to each resource within AWS. This includes resources such as EC2 instances, S3 buckets, and IAM roles. ARNs are used to identify and access these resources within AWS.
Structure of an ARN
An ARN is made up of several components, including the AWS service name, region, account ID, resource type, and resource name. The general format of an ARN is as follows:
arn:aws::::/
For example, the ARN for an S3 bucket in the US East (Ohio) region with the name “my-bucket” would look like this:
arn:aws:s3:us-east-2:123456789012:bucket/my-bucket
How to Find Your ARN
There are a few different ways to find your ARN, depending on the resource you are looking for.
AWS Console
The easiest way to find your ARN is through the AWS Management Console. Simply navigate to the resource you are looking for, such as an EC2 instance, and click on it. The ARN will be displayed in the resource’s details.
AWS CLI
If you prefer using the command line, you can use the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) to find your ARN. Simply use the aws describe- command, replacing with the AWS service and with the resource you are looking for. For example, to find the ARN for an EC2 instance, you would use the command aws ec2 describe-instances.
AWS SDKs
If you are using an AWS Software Development Kit (SDK) in your code, you can use the SDK’s describe function to retrieve the ARN for a specific resource. This will vary depending on the SDK and programming language you are using, so be sure to consult the documentation for your specific SDK.
Why Do I Need My ARN?
ARNs are used for a variety of purposes within AWS. Some common use cases include:
- Granting permissions: ARNs are used to specify which resources a user or role has access to within AWS. This allows for granular control over permissions and access.
- Resource tagging: ARNs are used to identify resources when applying tags. This allows for easier organization and management of resources.
- Cross-account access: ARNs can be used to grant access to resources across different AWS accounts.
Conclusion
In summary, an Amazon Resource Name (ARN) is a unique identifier for resources within AWS. It is made up of several components and can be found through the AWS Management Console, CLI, or SDKs. Understanding your ARN is important for managing and accessing your resources within AWS.
