---
description: |
  Data sources allow data to be fetched for use in Packer configuration. Use of data sources
  allows a build to use information defined outside of Packer.
page_title: Data Sources
sidebar_title: Data Sources
---

# Data Sources

Data sources allow data to be fetched for use in Packer configuration. Use of data sources
allows a build to use information defined outside of Packer.

-> **Note:** Data sources is a feature exclusively to HCL2 templates included in Packer `v1.7.0`.