# Learn template basics - meta - #source [aws docs](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSCloudFormation/latest/UserGuide/gettingstarted.templatebasics.html#gettingstarted.templatebasics.what) ## Highlights ### What is an AWS [[CFT|CloudFormation Template]]? A template is a declaration of the AWS resources that make up a stack. The template is stored as a text file whose format complies with the JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) or YAML standard. Because they are just text files, you can create and edit them in any text editor and manage them in your source control system with the rest of your source code. For more information about the template formats, see AWS CloudFormation template formats. In the template, you declare the AWS resources you want to create and configure. You declare an object as a name-value pair or a pairing of a name with a set of child objects enclosed. The syntax depends on the format you use. For more information, see the Template anatomy. The only required top-level object is the Resources object, which must declare at least one resource. Let's start with the most basic template containing only a Resources object, which contains a single resource declaration.