State in both physical and digital systems refers to the condition or properties of a system at a specific point in time, akin to a snapshot. In the physical world, this concept can be illustrated by a ball falling to the ground, where each frame of its motion represents a different state characterized by variables such as position and velocity. In infrastructure management, particularly with infrastructure-as-code platforms like Pulumi, state describes the configuration of infrastructure at various points as it transitions towards a desired final state. Pulumi manages these state transitions automatically, allowing users to define the desired state in code while the Pulumi Service tracks the changes, offering visibility through its dashboard. This automatic state management is crucial for handling complex, concurrent systems often found in cloud environments, ensuring that infrastructure follows the intended path to its final state. Pulumi simplifies this process by managing the state machine for users, providing audit logging and integration options for broader observation and collaboration in distributed teams.