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--- title: Create template - Visual Studio Code description: Use Visual Studio Code to work on Azure Resource Manager templates (ARM templates). ms.date: 06/26/2026 ms.topic: quickstart ms.custom: - mode-ui - devx-track-arm-template - sfi-image-nochange #Customer intent: As a developer new to Azure deployment, I want to learn how to use Visual Studio Code to create and edit Resource Manager templates, so I can use the templates to deploy Azure resources. --- # Quickstart: Create ARM templates with Visual Studio Code In this Quickstart, you use Visual Studio Code to create Azure Resource Manager templates (ARM templates). For a tutorial that is more focused on syntax, see [Tutorial: Create and deploy your first ARM template](./template-tutorial-create-first-template.md). > [!IMPORTANT] > [Azure Resource Manager (ARM) Tools extension for Visual Studio Code](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=msazurermtools.azurerm-vscode-tools) is deprecated and will no longer be supported after October 1, 2025. For Bicep development, we recommend using the [Bicep extension for Visual Studio Code](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-azuretools.vscode-bicep). To learn more, see [Quickstart: Create Bicep files with Visual Studio Code](../bicep/quickstart-create-bicep-use-visual-studio-code.md). Note that "transient install" methods like GitHub Codespaces will continue to function even after deprecation. To manually install the extension, you can get it [here](https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-azurearmtools/releases/tag/v0.15.15)." If you don't have an Azure subscription, [create a free account](https://azure.microsoft.com/pricing/purchase-options/azure-account?cid=msft_learn) before you begin. To complete this quickstart, you need [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/). You also need either the [Azure CLI](/cli/azure/) or the [Azure PowerShell module](/powershell/azure/new-azureps-module-az) installed and authenticated. ## Create an ARM template Create and open with Visual Studio Code a new file named *azuredeploy.json*. Add the following JSON snippet to the file for scaffolding out an ARM template: ```json { "$schema": "https://schema.management.azure.com/schemas/2019-04-01/deploymentTemplate.json#", "contentVersion": "1.0.0.0", "parameters": {}, "functions": [], "variables": {}, "resources": [], "outputs": {} } ``` The template has the following sections: `parameters`, `functions`, `variables`, `resources`, and `outputs`. Each section is currently empty. ## Add an Azure resource Update the resources section with the following snippet to include a storage account. ```json "resources": [{ "name": "storageaccount1", "type": "Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts", "apiVersion": "2025-06-01", "tags": { "displayName": "storageaccount1" }, "location": "[resourceGroup().location]", "kind": "StorageV2", "sku": { "name": "Premium_LRS", "tier": "Premium" } }], ``` Use [ALT] + [SHIFT] + [F] to format the document for better readability. ## Add template parameters Update the parameters section to include a parameter for the storage account name. ```json "parameters": { "storageAccountName": { "type": "string", "metadata": { "description": "Storage account name" }, "defaultValue": "[format('storage{0}', uniqueString(resourceGroup().id))]" } }, ``` Azure storage account names have a minimum length of three characters and a maximum of 24. Add both `minLength` and `maxLength` to the parameter and provide appropriate values. ```json "parameters": { "storageAccountName": { "type": "string", "metadata": { "description": "Storage account name" }, "defaultValue": "[format('storage{0}', uniqueString(resourceGroup().id))]", "minLength": 3, "maxLength": 24 } }, ``` Now, on the storage resource, update the name property to use the parameter. ```json "resources": [ { "name": "[parameters('storageAccountName')]", "type": "Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts", ... ``` Upon completion, your template looks like: ```json { "$schema": "https://schema.management.azure.com/schemas/2019-04-01/deploymentTemplate.json#", "contentVersion": "1.0.0.0", "parameters": { "storageAccountName": { "type": "string", "metadata": { "description": "Storage account name" }, "defaultValue": "[format('storage{0}', uniqueString(resourceGroup().id))]", "minLength": 3, "maxLength": 24 } }, "functions": [], "variables": {}, "resources": [ { "name": "[parameters('storageAccountName')]", "type": "Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts", "apiVersion": "2025-06-01", "tags": { "displayName": "storageaccount1" }, "location": "[resourceGroup().location]", "kind": "StorageV2", "sku": { "name": "Premium_LRS", "tier": "Premium" } } ], "outputs": {} } ``` ## Deploy the template Open the integrated Visual Studio Code terminal using the `ctrl` + ```` ` ```` key combination and use either the Azure CLI or Azure PowerShell module to deploy the template. # [CLI](#tab/CLI) ```azurecli az group create --name arm-vscode --location eastus az deployment group create --resource-group arm-vscode --template-file azuredeploy.json ``` # [PowerShell](#tab/PowerShell) ```azurepowershell New-AzResourceGroup -Name arm-vscode -Location eastus New-AzResourceGroupDeployment -ResourceGroupName arm-vscode -TemplateFile ./azuredeploy.json ``` --- ## Clean up resources When you no longer need the Azure resources, use the Azure CLI or Azure PowerShell module to delete the quickstart resource group. # [CLI](#tab/CLI) ```azurecli az group delete --name arm-vscode ``` # [PowerShell](#tab/PowerShell) ```azurepowershell Remove-AzResourceGroup -Name arm-vscode ``` --- ## Next steps > [!div class="nextstepaction"] > [Beginner tutorials](./template-tutorial-create-first-template.md)