Previous versions used include directive. Which had issues (confusing and error-prone). So, it was deprecated.

There are two things we can do:

1. include (dynamic)
2. import (static)

Play related

import_playbook

the import_playbook feature can only be used at the top level of a playbook and cannot be used inside a play. If you import multiple playbooks, then they will be imported and run in order.

Task related

include_tasks, import_tasks

Plays/tasks can be variablized for reuse. For example, instead of

---
  - name: Install the httpd package
    yum:
      name: httpd
      state: latest
  - name: Start the httpd service
    service:
      name: httpd
      enabled: true
      state: started

It can be variablized as

---
  - name: Install the {{ package }} package
    yum:
      name: "{{ package }}"
      state: latest
  - name: Start the {{ service }} service
    service:
      name: "{{ service }}"
      enabled: true
      state: started

And variables set like so:

tasks:
    - name: Import task file and set variables
      import_tasks: task.yml
      vars:
        package: httpd
        service: httpd

---

references: