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What is Azure CLI?

Azure CLI (Command-Line Interface) is a cross-platform command-line tool developed by Microsoft for managing Azure cloud resources, first released in 2017 as a Python-based replacement for the older Azure PowerShell-centric tooling. Azure CLI scripts use the `az` command followed by resource groups and subcommands to create, configure, monitor, and delete cloud resources including virtual machines, databases, storage accounts, networking components, and Kubernetes clusters. The tool follows a consistent `az <group> <subcommand>` pattern that maps directly to Azure Resource Manager (ARM) API operations, making scripts predictable and self-documenting.

Azure CLI is widely used in DevOps workflows, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure automation, often embedded in shell scripts, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps pipelines, and Makefiles. It supports output formatting in JSON, table, and TSV formats, enabling easy integration with other command-line tools like jq. The tool includes built-in features for Azure Active Directory authentication, subscription management, and interactive mode with autocompletion.

Extensions expand the CLI's capabilities for services like Azure Machine Learning, Azure Spring Apps, and Azure DevOps. Azure CLI scripts serve as a more accessible alternative to ARM templates and Bicep for teams that prefer imperative resource management. With Azure serving millions of enterprise customers worldwide, Azure CLI scripts are found throughout organizations managing cloud infrastructure, from small startups using simple deployment scripts to large enterprises orchestrating complex multi-region architectures.