---
title: BCPFR1 - Cross-Referencing Modules
description: Module Specification for the Azure Verified Modules (AVM) program
url: /spec/BCPFR1
type: default
tags: [
  Class-Resource, # MULTIPLE VALUES: this can be "Class-Resource" AND/OR "Class-Pattern" AND/OR "Class-Utility"
  Class-Pattern, # MULTIPLE VALUES: this can be "Class-Resource" AND/OR "Class-Pattern" AND/OR "Class-Utility"
    Class-Utility, # MULTIPLE VALUES: this can be "Class-Resource" AND/OR "Class-Pattern" AND/OR "Class-Utility"
  Type-Functional, # SINGLE VALUE: this can be "Type-Functional" OR "Type-NonFunctional"
  Category-Naming/Composition, # SINGLE VALUE: this can be "Category-Testing" OR "Category-Telemetry" OR "Category-Contribution/Support" OR "Category-Documentation" OR "Category-CodeStyle" OR "Category-Naming/Composition" OR "Category-Inputs/Outputs" OR "Category-Release/Publishing"
  Language-Bicep, # MULTIPLE VALUES: this can be "Language-Bicep" AND/OR "Language-Terraform"
  Severity-MAY, # SINGLE VALUE: this can be "Severity-MUST" OR "Severity-SHOULD" OR "Severity-MAY"
  Persona-Owner, # MULTIPLE VALUES: this can be "Persona-Owner" AND/OR "Persona-Contributor"
  Persona-Contributor, # MULTIPLE VALUES: this can be "Persona-Owner" AND/OR "Persona-Contributor"
  Lifecycle-BAU, # SINGLE VALUE: this can be "Lifecycle-Initial" OR "Lifecycle-BAU" OR "Lifecycle-EOL"
  Validation-TBD # SINGLE VALUE: this can be "Validation-BCP/Manual" OR "Validation-BCP/CI/Informational" OR "Validation-BCP/CI/Enforced"
]
priority: 10010
---

## ID: BCPFR1 - Category: Composition - Cross-Referencing Modules

Module owners **MAY** cross-reference other modules to build either Resource or Pattern modules.

However, they **MUST** be referenced only by a public registry reference to a pinned version e.g. `br/public:avm/[res|ptn|utl]/<publishedModuleName>:>version<`. They **MUST NOT** use local parent path references to a module e.g. `../../xxx/yyy.bicep`.

The **only** exception to this rule are child modules as documented in [BCPFR6]({{% siteparam base %}}/spec/BCPFR6).

Modules **MUST NOT** contain references to non-AVM modules.
