diff --git a/ext/typeexpr/defaults.go b/ext/typeexpr/defaults.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..851c72fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ext/typeexpr/defaults.go
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+package typeexpr
+
+import (
+	"github.com/zclconf/go-cty/cty"
+)
+
+// Defaults represents a type tree which may contain default values for
+// optional object attributes at any level. This is used to apply nested
+// defaults to an input value before converting it to the concrete type.
+type Defaults struct {
+	// Type of the node for which these defaults apply. This is necessary in
+	// order to determine how to inspect the Defaults and Children collections.
+	Type cty.Type
+
+	// DefaultValues contains the default values for each object attribute,
+	// indexed by attribute name.
+	DefaultValues map[string]cty.Value
+
+	// Children is a map of Defaults for elements contained in this type. This
+	// only applies to structural and collection types.
+	//
+	// The map is indexed by string instead of cty.Value because cty.Number
+	// instances are non-comparable, due to embedding a *big.Float.
+	//
+	// Collections have a single element type, which is stored at key "".
+	Children map[string]*Defaults
+}
+
+// Apply walks the given value, applying specified defaults wherever optional
+// attributes are missing. The input and output values may have different
+// types, and the result may still require type conversion to the final desired
+// type.
+//
+// This function is permissive and does not report errors, assuming that the
+// caller will have better context to report useful type conversion failure
+// diagnostics.
+func (d *Defaults) Apply(val cty.Value) cty.Value {
+	val, err := cty.TransformWithTransformer(val, &defaultsTransformer{defaults: d})
+
+	// The transformer should never return an error.
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+
+	return val
+}
+
+// defaultsTransformer implements cty.Transformer, as a pre-order traversal,
+// applying defaults as it goes. The pre-order traversal allows us to specify
+// defaults more loosely for structural types, as the defaults for the types
+// will be applied to the default value later in the walk.
+type defaultsTransformer struct {
+	defaults *Defaults
+}
+
+var _ cty.Transformer = (*defaultsTransformer)(nil)
+
+func (t *defaultsTransformer) Enter(p cty.Path, v cty.Value) (cty.Value, error) {
+	// Cannot apply defaults to an unknown value
+	if !v.IsKnown() {
+		return v, nil
+	}
+
+	// Look up the defaults for this path.
+	defaults := t.defaults.traverse(p)
+
+	// If we have no defaults, nothing to do.
+	if len(defaults) == 0 {
+		return v, nil
+	}
+
+	// Ensure we are working with an object or map.
+	vt := v.Type()
+	if !vt.IsObjectType() && !vt.IsMapType() {
+		// Cannot apply defaults because the value type is incompatible.
+		// We'll ignore this and let the later conversion stage display a
+		// more useful diagnostic.
+		return v, nil
+	}
+
+	// Unmark the value and reapply the marks later.
+	v, valMarks := v.Unmark()
+
+	// Convert the given value into an attribute map (if it's non-null and
+	// non-empty).
+	attrs := make(map[string]cty.Value)
+	if !v.IsNull() && v.LengthInt() > 0 {
+		attrs = v.AsValueMap()
+	}
+
+	// Apply defaults where attributes are missing, constructing a new
+	// value with the same marks.
+	for attr, defaultValue := range defaults {
+		if attrValue, ok := attrs[attr]; !ok || attrValue.IsNull() {
+			attrs[attr] = defaultValue
+		}
+	}
+
+	// We construct an object even if the input value was a map, as the
+	// type of an attribute's default value may be incompatible with the
+	// map element type.
+	return cty.ObjectVal(attrs).WithMarks(valMarks), nil
+}
+
+func (t *defaultsTransformer) Exit(p cty.Path, v cty.Value) (cty.Value, error) {
+	return v, nil
+}
+
+// traverse walks the abstract defaults structure for a given path, returning
+// a set of default values (if any are present) or nil (if not). This operation
+// differs from applying a path to a value because we need to customize the
+// traversal steps for collection types, where a single set of defaults can be
+// applied to an arbitrary number of elements.
+func (d *Defaults) traverse(path cty.Path) map[string]cty.Value {
+	if len(path) == 0 {
+		return d.DefaultValues
+	}
+
+	switch s := path[0].(type) {
+	case cty.GetAttrStep:
+		if d.Type.IsObjectType() {
+			// Attribute path steps are normally applied to objects, where each
+			// attribute may have different defaults.
+			return d.traverseChild(s.Name, path)
+		} else if d.Type.IsMapType() {
+			// Literal values for maps can result in attribute path steps, in which
+			// case we need to disregard the attribute name, as maps can have only
+			// one child.
+			return d.traverseChild("", path)
+		}
+
+		return nil
+	case cty.IndexStep:
+		if d.Type.IsTupleType() {
+			// Tuples can have different types for each element, so we look
+			// up the defaults based on the index key.
+			return d.traverseChild(s.Key.AsBigFloat().String(), path)
+		} else if d.Type.IsCollectionType() {
+			// Defaults for collection element types are stored with a blank
+			// key, so we disregard the index key.
+			return d.traverseChild("", path)
+		}
+		return nil
+	default:
+		// At time of writing there are no other path step types.
+		return nil
+	}
+}
+
+// traverseChild continues the traversal for a given child key, and mutually
+// recurses with traverse.
+func (d *Defaults) traverseChild(name string, path cty.Path) map[string]cty.Value {
+	if child, ok := d.Children[name]; ok {
+		return child.traverse(path[1:])
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/ext/typeexpr/defaults_test.go b/ext/typeexpr/defaults_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a4da6bb6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ext/typeexpr/defaults_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,504 @@
+package typeexpr
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp"
+	"github.com/zclconf/go-cty/cty"
+)
+
+var (
+	valueComparer = cmp.Comparer(cty.Value.RawEquals)
+)
+
+func TestDefaults_Apply(t *testing.T) {
+	simpleObject := cty.ObjectWithOptionalAttrs(map[string]cty.Type{
+		"a": cty.String,
+		"b": cty.Bool,
+	}, []string{"b"})
+	nestedObject := cty.ObjectWithOptionalAttrs(map[string]cty.Type{
+		"c": simpleObject,
+		"d": cty.Number,
+	}, []string{"c"})
+
+	testCases := map[string]struct {
+		defaults *Defaults
+		value    cty.Value
+		want     cty.Value
+	}{
+		// Nothing happens when there are no default values and no children.
+		"no defaults": {
+			defaults: &Defaults{
+				Type: cty.Map(cty.String),
+			},
+			value: cty.MapVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+				"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+				"b": cty.StringVal("bar"),
+			}),
+			want: cty.MapVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+				"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+				"b": cty.StringVal("bar"),
+			}),
+		},
+		// Passing a map which does not include one of the attributes with a
+		// default results in the default being applied to the output. Output
+		// is always an object.
+		"simple object with defaults applied": {
+			defaults: &Defaults{
+				Type: simpleObject,
+				DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+					"b": cty.True,
+				},
+			},
+			value: cty.MapVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+				"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+			}),
+			want: cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+				"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+				"b": cty.True,
+			}),
+		},
+		// Unknown values may be assigned to root modules during validation,
+		// and we cannot apply defaults at that time.
+		"simple object with defaults but unknown value": {
+			defaults: &Defaults{
+				Type: simpleObject,
+				DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+					"b": cty.True,
+				},
+			},
+			value: cty.UnknownVal(cty.Map(cty.String)),
+			want:  cty.UnknownVal(cty.Map(cty.String)),
+		},
+		// Defaults do not override attributes which are present in the given
+		// value.
+		"simple object with optional attributes specified": {
+			defaults: &Defaults{
+				Type: simpleObject,
+				DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+					"b": cty.True,
+				},
+			},
+			value: cty.MapVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+				"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+				"b": cty.StringVal("false"),
+			}),
+			want: cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+				"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+				"b": cty.StringVal("false"),
+			}),
+		},
+		// Defaults will replace explicit nulls.
+		"object with explicit null for attribute with default": {
+			defaults: &Defaults{
+				Type: simpleObject,
+				DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+					"b": cty.True,
+				},
+			},
+			value: cty.MapVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+				"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+				"b": cty.NullVal(cty.String),
+			}),
+			want: cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+				"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+				"b": cty.True,
+			}),
+		},
+		// Defaults can be specified at any level of depth and will be applied
+		// so long as there is a parent value to populate.
+		"nested object with defaults applied": {
+			defaults: &Defaults{
+				Type: nestedObject,
+				Children: map[string]*Defaults{
+					"c": {
+						Type: simpleObject,
+						DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+							"b": cty.False,
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			value: cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+				"c": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+				}),
+				"d": cty.NumberIntVal(5),
+			}),
+			want: cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+				"c": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+					"b": cty.False,
+				}),
+				"d": cty.NumberIntVal(5),
+			}),
+		},
+		// Testing traversal of collections.
+		"map of objects with defaults applied": {
+			defaults: &Defaults{
+				Type: cty.Map(simpleObject),
+				Children: map[string]*Defaults{
+					"": {
+						Type: simpleObject,
+						DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+							"b": cty.True,
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			value: cty.MapVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+				"f": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+				}),
+				"b": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"a": cty.StringVal("bar"),
+				}),
+			}),
+			want: cty.MapVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+				"f": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+					"b": cty.True,
+				}),
+				"b": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"a": cty.StringVal("bar"),
+					"b": cty.True,
+				}),
+			}),
+		},
+		// A map variable value specified in a tfvars file will be an object,
+		// in which case we must still traverse the defaults structure
+		// correctly.
+		"map of objects with defaults applied, given object instead of map": {
+			defaults: &Defaults{
+				Type: cty.Map(simpleObject),
+				Children: map[string]*Defaults{
+					"": {
+						Type: simpleObject,
+						DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+							"b": cty.True,
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			value: cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+				"f": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+				}),
+				"b": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"a": cty.StringVal("bar"),
+				}),
+			}),
+			want: cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+				"f": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+					"b": cty.True,
+				}),
+				"b": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"a": cty.StringVal("bar"),
+					"b": cty.True,
+				}),
+			}),
+		},
+		// Another example of a collection type, this time exercising the code
+		// processing a tuple input.
+		"list of objects with defaults applied": {
+			defaults: &Defaults{
+				Type: cty.List(simpleObject),
+				Children: map[string]*Defaults{
+					"": {
+						Type: simpleObject,
+						DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+							"b": cty.True,
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			value: cty.TupleVal([]cty.Value{
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+				}),
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"a": cty.StringVal("bar"),
+				}),
+			}),
+			want: cty.TupleVal([]cty.Value{
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+					"b": cty.True,
+				}),
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"a": cty.StringVal("bar"),
+					"b": cty.True,
+				}),
+			}),
+		},
+		// Unlike collections, tuple variable types can have defaults for
+		// multiple element types.
+		"tuple of objects with defaults applied": {
+			defaults: &Defaults{
+				Type: cty.Tuple([]cty.Type{simpleObject, nestedObject}),
+				Children: map[string]*Defaults{
+					"0": {
+						Type: simpleObject,
+						DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+							"b": cty.False,
+						},
+					},
+					"1": {
+						Type: nestedObject,
+						DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+							"c": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+								"a": cty.StringVal("default"),
+								"b": cty.True,
+							}),
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			value: cty.TupleVal([]cty.Value{
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+				}),
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"d": cty.NumberIntVal(5),
+				}),
+			}),
+			want: cty.TupleVal([]cty.Value{
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+					"b": cty.False,
+				}),
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"c": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+						"a": cty.StringVal("default"),
+						"b": cty.True,
+					}),
+					"d": cty.NumberIntVal(5),
+				}),
+			}),
+		},
+		// More complex cases with deeply nested defaults, testing the "default
+		// within a default" edges.
+		"set of nested objects, no default sub-object": {
+			defaults: &Defaults{
+				Type: cty.Set(nestedObject),
+				Children: map[string]*Defaults{
+					"": {
+						Type: nestedObject,
+						Children: map[string]*Defaults{
+							"c": {
+								Type: simpleObject,
+								DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+									"b": cty.True,
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			value: cty.TupleVal([]cty.Value{
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"c": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+						"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+					}),
+					"d": cty.NumberIntVal(5),
+				}),
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"d": cty.NumberIntVal(7),
+				}),
+			}),
+			want: cty.TupleVal([]cty.Value{
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"c": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+						"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+						"b": cty.True,
+					}),
+					"d": cty.NumberIntVal(5),
+				}),
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					// No default value for "c" specified, so none applied. The
+					// convert stage will fill in a null.
+					"d": cty.NumberIntVal(7),
+				}),
+			}),
+		},
+		"set of nested objects, empty default sub-object": {
+			defaults: &Defaults{
+				Type: cty.Set(nestedObject),
+				Children: map[string]*Defaults{
+					"": {
+						Type: nestedObject,
+						DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+							// This is a convenient shorthand which causes a
+							// missing sub-object to be filled with an object
+							// with all of the default values specified in the
+							// sub-object's type.
+							"c": cty.EmptyObjectVal,
+						},
+						Children: map[string]*Defaults{
+							"c": {
+								Type: simpleObject,
+								DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+									"b": cty.True,
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			value: cty.TupleVal([]cty.Value{
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"c": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+						"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+					}),
+					"d": cty.NumberIntVal(5),
+				}),
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"d": cty.NumberIntVal(7),
+				}),
+			}),
+			want: cty.TupleVal([]cty.Value{
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"c": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+						"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+						"b": cty.True,
+					}),
+					"d": cty.NumberIntVal(5),
+				}),
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"c": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+						// Default value for "b" is applied to the empty object
+						// specified as the default for "c"
+						"b": cty.True,
+					}),
+					"d": cty.NumberIntVal(7),
+				}),
+			}),
+		},
+		"set of nested objects, overriding default sub-object": {
+			defaults: &Defaults{
+				Type: cty.Set(nestedObject),
+				Children: map[string]*Defaults{
+					"": {
+						Type: nestedObject,
+						DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+							// If no value is given for "c", we use this object
+							// of non-default values instead. These take
+							// precedence over the default values specified in
+							// the child type.
+							"c": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+								"a": cty.StringVal("fallback"),
+								"b": cty.False,
+							}),
+						},
+						Children: map[string]*Defaults{
+							"c": {
+								Type: simpleObject,
+								DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+									"b": cty.True,
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			value: cty.TupleVal([]cty.Value{
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"c": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+						"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+					}),
+					"d": cty.NumberIntVal(5),
+				}),
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"d": cty.NumberIntVal(7),
+				}),
+			}),
+			want: cty.TupleVal([]cty.Value{
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"c": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+						"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+						"b": cty.True,
+					}),
+					"d": cty.NumberIntVal(5),
+				}),
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"c": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+						// The default value for "b" is not applied, as the
+						// default value for "c" includes a non-default value
+						// already.
+						"a": cty.StringVal("fallback"),
+						"b": cty.False,
+					}),
+					"d": cty.NumberIntVal(7),
+				}),
+			}),
+		},
+		"set of nested objects, nulls in default sub-object overridden": {
+			defaults: &Defaults{
+				Type: cty.Set(nestedObject),
+				Children: map[string]*Defaults{
+					"": {
+						Type: nestedObject,
+						DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+							// The default value for "c" is used to prepopulate
+							// the nested object's value if not specified, but
+							// the null default for its "b" attribute will be
+							// overridden by the default specified in the child
+							// type.
+							"c": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+								"a": cty.StringVal("fallback"),
+								"b": cty.NullVal(cty.Bool),
+							}),
+						},
+						Children: map[string]*Defaults{
+							"c": {
+								Type: simpleObject,
+								DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+									"b": cty.True,
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			value: cty.TupleVal([]cty.Value{
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"c": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+						"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+					}),
+					"d": cty.NumberIntVal(5),
+				}),
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"d": cty.NumberIntVal(7),
+				}),
+			}),
+			want: cty.TupleVal([]cty.Value{
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"c": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+						"a": cty.StringVal("foo"),
+						"b": cty.True,
+					}),
+					"d": cty.NumberIntVal(5),
+				}),
+				cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+					"c": cty.ObjectVal(map[string]cty.Value{
+						// The default value for "b" overrides the explicit
+						// null in the default value for "c".
+						"a": cty.StringVal("fallback"),
+						"b": cty.True,
+					}),
+					"d": cty.NumberIntVal(7),
+				}),
+			}),
+		},
+	}
+
+	for name, tc := range testCases {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got := tc.defaults.Apply(tc.value)
+			if !cmp.Equal(tc.want, got, valueComparer) {
+				t.Errorf("wrong result\n%s", cmp.Diff(tc.want, got, valueComparer))
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/ext/typeexpr/get_type.go b/ext/typeexpr/get_type.go
index 11b06897..98a861e9 100644
--- a/ext/typeexpr/get_type.go
+++ b/ext/typeexpr/get_type.go
@@ -5,49 +5,52 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/hashicorp/hcl/v2"
 	"github.com/zclconf/go-cty/cty"
+	"github.com/zclconf/go-cty/cty/convert"
 )
 
 const invalidTypeSummary = "Invalid type specification"
 
-// getType is the internal implementation of both Type and TypeConstraint,
-// using the passed flag to distinguish. When constraint is false, the "any"
-// keyword will produce an error.
-func getType(expr hcl.Expression, constraint bool) (cty.Type, hcl.Diagnostics) {
+// getType is the internal implementation of Type, TypeConstraint, and
+// TypeConstraintWithDefaults, using the passed flags to distinguish. When
+// `constraint` is true, the "any" keyword can be used in place of a concrete
+// type. When `withDefaults` is true, the "optional" call expression supports
+// an additional argument describing a default value.
+func getType(expr hcl.Expression, constraint, withDefaults bool) (cty.Type, *Defaults, hcl.Diagnostics) {
 	// First we'll try for one of our keywords
 	kw := hcl.ExprAsKeyword(expr)
 	switch kw {
 	case "bool":
-		return cty.Bool, nil
+		return cty.Bool, nil, nil
 	case "string":
-		return cty.String, nil
+		return cty.String, nil, nil
 	case "number":
-		return cty.Number, nil
+		return cty.Number, nil, nil
 	case "any":
 		if constraint {
-			return cty.DynamicPseudoType, nil
+			return cty.DynamicPseudoType, nil, nil
 		}
-		return cty.DynamicPseudoType, hcl.Diagnostics{{
+		return cty.DynamicPseudoType, nil, hcl.Diagnostics{{
 			Severity: hcl.DiagError,
 			Summary:  invalidTypeSummary,
 			Detail:   fmt.Sprintf("The keyword %q cannot be used in this type specification: an exact type is required.", kw),
 			Subject:  expr.Range().Ptr(),
 		}}
 	case "list", "map", "set":
-		return cty.DynamicPseudoType, hcl.Diagnostics{{
+		return cty.DynamicPseudoType, nil, hcl.Diagnostics{{
 			Severity: hcl.DiagError,
 			Summary:  invalidTypeSummary,
 			Detail:   fmt.Sprintf("The %s type constructor requires one argument specifying the element type.", kw),
 			Subject:  expr.Range().Ptr(),
 		}}
 	case "object":
-		return cty.DynamicPseudoType, hcl.Diagnostics{{
+		return cty.DynamicPseudoType, nil, hcl.Diagnostics{{
 			Severity: hcl.DiagError,
 			Summary:  invalidTypeSummary,
 			Detail:   "The object type constructor requires one argument specifying the attribute types and values as a map.",
 			Subject:  expr.Range().Ptr(),
 		}}
 	case "tuple":
-		return cty.DynamicPseudoType, hcl.Diagnostics{{
+		return cty.DynamicPseudoType, nil, hcl.Diagnostics{{
 			Severity: hcl.DiagError,
 			Summary:  invalidTypeSummary,
 			Detail:   "The tuple type constructor requires one argument specifying the element types as a list.",
@@ -56,7 +59,7 @@ func getType(expr hcl.Expression, constraint bool) (cty.Type, hcl.Diagnostics) {
 	case "":
 		// okay! we'll fall through and try processing as a call, then.
 	default:
-		return cty.DynamicPseudoType, hcl.Diagnostics{{
+		return cty.DynamicPseudoType, nil, hcl.Diagnostics{{
 			Severity: hcl.DiagError,
 			Summary:  invalidTypeSummary,
 			Detail:   fmt.Sprintf("The keyword %q is not a valid type specification.", kw),
@@ -68,7 +71,7 @@ func getType(expr hcl.Expression, constraint bool) (cty.Type, hcl.Diagnostics) {
 	// try to process it as a call instead.
 	call, diags := hcl.ExprCall(expr)
 	if diags.HasErrors() {
-		return cty.DynamicPseudoType, hcl.Diagnostics{{
+		return cty.DynamicPseudoType, nil, hcl.Diagnostics{{
 			Severity: hcl.DiagError,
 			Summary:  invalidTypeSummary,
 			Detail:   "A type specification is either a primitive type keyword (bool, number, string) or a complex type constructor call, like list(string).",
@@ -77,13 +80,20 @@ func getType(expr hcl.Expression, constraint bool) (cty.Type, hcl.Diagnostics) {
 	}
 
 	switch call.Name {
-	case "bool", "string", "number", "any":
-		return cty.DynamicPseudoType, hcl.Diagnostics{{
+	case "bool", "string", "number":
+		return cty.DynamicPseudoType, nil, hcl.Diagnostics{{
 			Severity: hcl.DiagError,
 			Summary:  invalidTypeSummary,
 			Detail:   fmt.Sprintf("Primitive type keyword %q does not expect arguments.", call.Name),
 			Subject:  &call.ArgsRange,
 		}}
+	case "any":
+		return cty.DynamicPseudoType, nil, hcl.Diagnostics{{
+			Severity: hcl.DiagError,
+			Summary:  invalidTypeSummary,
+			Detail:   fmt.Sprintf("Type constraint keyword %q does not expect arguments.", call.Name),
+			Subject:  &call.ArgsRange,
+		}}
 	}
 
 	if len(call.Arguments) != 1 {
@@ -98,7 +108,7 @@ func getType(expr hcl.Expression, constraint bool) (cty.Type, hcl.Diagnostics) {
 
 		switch call.Name {
 		case "list", "set", "map":
-			return cty.DynamicPseudoType, hcl.Diagnostics{{
+			return cty.DynamicPseudoType, nil, hcl.Diagnostics{{
 				Severity: hcl.DiagError,
 				Summary:  invalidTypeSummary,
 				Detail:   fmt.Sprintf("The %s type constructor requires one argument specifying the element type.", call.Name),
@@ -106,7 +116,7 @@ func getType(expr hcl.Expression, constraint bool) (cty.Type, hcl.Diagnostics) {
 				Context:  &contextRange,
 			}}
 		case "object":
-			return cty.DynamicPseudoType, hcl.Diagnostics{{
+			return cty.DynamicPseudoType, nil, hcl.Diagnostics{{
 				Severity: hcl.DiagError,
 				Summary:  invalidTypeSummary,
 				Detail:   "The object type constructor requires one argument specifying the attribute types and values as a map.",
@@ -114,7 +124,7 @@ func getType(expr hcl.Expression, constraint bool) (cty.Type, hcl.Diagnostics) {
 				Context:  &contextRange,
 			}}
 		case "tuple":
-			return cty.DynamicPseudoType, hcl.Diagnostics{{
+			return cty.DynamicPseudoType, nil, hcl.Diagnostics{{
 				Severity: hcl.DiagError,
 				Summary:  invalidTypeSummary,
 				Detail:   "The tuple type constructor requires one argument specifying the element types as a list.",
@@ -127,18 +137,21 @@ func getType(expr hcl.Expression, constraint bool) (cty.Type, hcl.Diagnostics) {
 	switch call.Name {
 
 	case "list":
-		ety, diags := getType(call.Arguments[0], constraint)
-		return cty.List(ety), diags
+		ety, defaults, diags := getType(call.Arguments[0], constraint, withDefaults)
+		ty := cty.List(ety)
+		return ty, collectionDefaults(ty, defaults), diags
 	case "set":
-		ety, diags := getType(call.Arguments[0], constraint)
-		return cty.Set(ety), diags
+		ety, defaults, diags := getType(call.Arguments[0], constraint, withDefaults)
+		ty := cty.Set(ety)
+		return ty, collectionDefaults(ty, defaults), diags
 	case "map":
-		ety, diags := getType(call.Arguments[0], constraint)
-		return cty.Map(ety), diags
+		ety, defaults, diags := getType(call.Arguments[0], constraint, withDefaults)
+		ty := cty.Map(ety)
+		return ty, collectionDefaults(ty, defaults), diags
 	case "object":
 		attrDefs, diags := hcl.ExprMap(call.Arguments[0])
 		if diags.HasErrors() {
-			return cty.DynamicPseudoType, hcl.Diagnostics{{
+			return cty.DynamicPseudoType, nil, hcl.Diagnostics{{
 				Severity: hcl.DiagError,
 				Summary:  invalidTypeSummary,
 				Detail:   "Object type constructor requires a map whose keys are attribute names and whose values are the corresponding attribute types.",
@@ -148,6 +161,9 @@ func getType(expr hcl.Expression, constraint bool) (cty.Type, hcl.Diagnostics) {
 		}
 
 		atys := make(map[string]cty.Type)
+		defaultValues := make(map[string]cty.Value)
+		children := make(map[string]*Defaults)
+		var optAttrs []string
 		for _, attrDef := range attrDefs {
 			attrName := hcl.ExprAsKeyword(attrDef.Key)
 			if attrName == "" {
@@ -160,15 +176,102 @@ func getType(expr hcl.Expression, constraint bool) (cty.Type, hcl.Diagnostics) {
 				})
 				continue
 			}
-			aty, attrDiags := getType(attrDef.Value, constraint)
+			atyExpr := attrDef.Value
+
+			// the attribute type expression might be wrapped in the special
+			// modifier optional(...) to indicate an optional attribute. If
+			// so, we'll unwrap that first and make a note about it being
+			// optional for when we construct the type below.
+			var defaultExpr hcl.Expression
+			if call, callDiags := hcl.ExprCall(atyExpr); !callDiags.HasErrors() {
+				if call.Name == "optional" {
+					if len(call.Arguments) < 1 {
+						diags = append(diags, &hcl.Diagnostic{
+							Severity: hcl.DiagError,
+							Summary:  invalidTypeSummary,
+							Detail:   "Optional attribute modifier requires the attribute type as its argument.",
+							Subject:  call.ArgsRange.Ptr(),
+							Context:  atyExpr.Range().Ptr(),
+						})
+						continue
+					}
+					if constraint {
+						if withDefaults {
+							switch len(call.Arguments) {
+							case 2:
+								defaultExpr = call.Arguments[1]
+								defaultVal, defaultDiags := defaultExpr.Value(nil)
+								diags = append(diags, defaultDiags...)
+								if !defaultDiags.HasErrors() {
+									optAttrs = append(optAttrs, attrName)
+									defaultValues[attrName] = defaultVal
+								}
+							case 1:
+								optAttrs = append(optAttrs, attrName)
+							default:
+								diags = append(diags, &hcl.Diagnostic{
+									Severity: hcl.DiagError,
+									Summary:  invalidTypeSummary,
+									Detail:   "Optional attribute modifier expects at most two arguments: the attribute type, and a default value.",
+									Subject:  call.ArgsRange.Ptr(),
+									Context:  atyExpr.Range().Ptr(),
+								})
+							}
+						} else {
+							if len(call.Arguments) == 1 {
+								optAttrs = append(optAttrs, attrName)
+							} else {
+								diags = append(diags, &hcl.Diagnostic{
+									Severity: hcl.DiagError,
+									Summary:  invalidTypeSummary,
+									Detail:   "Optional attribute modifier expects only one argument: the attribute type.",
+									Subject:  call.ArgsRange.Ptr(),
+									Context:  atyExpr.Range().Ptr(),
+								})
+							}
+						}
+					} else {
+						diags = append(diags, &hcl.Diagnostic{
+							Severity: hcl.DiagError,
+							Summary:  invalidTypeSummary,
+							Detail:   "Optional attribute modifier is only for type constraints, not for exact types.",
+							Subject:  call.NameRange.Ptr(),
+							Context:  atyExpr.Range().Ptr(),
+						})
+					}
+					atyExpr = call.Arguments[0]
+				}
+			}
+
+			aty, aDefaults, attrDiags := getType(atyExpr, constraint, withDefaults)
 			diags = append(diags, attrDiags...)
+
+			// If a default is set for an optional attribute, verify that it is
+			// convertible to the attribute type.
+			if defaultVal, ok := defaultValues[attrName]; ok {
+				_, err := convert.Convert(defaultVal, aty)
+				if err != nil {
+					diags = append(diags, &hcl.Diagnostic{
+						Severity: hcl.DiagError,
+						Summary:  "Invalid default value for optional attribute",
+						Detail:   fmt.Sprintf("This default value is not compatible with the attribute's type constraint: %s.", err),
+						Subject:  defaultExpr.Range().Ptr(),
+					})
+					delete(defaultValues, attrName)
+				}
+			}
+
 			atys[attrName] = aty
+			if aDefaults != nil {
+				children[attrName] = aDefaults
+			}
 		}
-		return cty.Object(atys), diags
+		ty := cty.ObjectWithOptionalAttrs(atys, optAttrs)
+		return ty, structuredDefaults(ty, defaultValues, children), diags
 	case "tuple":
 		elemDefs, diags := hcl.ExprList(call.Arguments[0])
 		if diags.HasErrors() {
-			return cty.DynamicPseudoType, hcl.Diagnostics{{
+			return cty.DynamicPseudoType, nil, hcl.Diagnostics{{
 				Severity: hcl.DiagError,
 				Summary:  invalidTypeSummary,
 				Detail:   "Tuple type constructor requires a list of element types.",
@@ -177,16 +280,28 @@ func getType(expr hcl.Expression, constraint bool) (cty.Type, hcl.Diagnostics) {
 			}}
 		}
 		etys := make([]cty.Type, len(elemDefs))
+		children := make(map[string]*Defaults, len(elemDefs))
 		for i, defExpr := range elemDefs {
-			ety, elemDiags := getType(defExpr, constraint)
+			ety, elemDefaults, elemDiags := getType(defExpr, constraint, withDefaults)
 			diags = append(diags, elemDiags...)
 			etys[i] = ety
+			if elemDefaults != nil {
+				children[fmt.Sprintf("%d", i)] = elemDefaults
+			}
 		}
-		return cty.Tuple(etys), diags
+		ty := cty.Tuple(etys)
+		return ty, structuredDefaults(ty, nil, children), diags
+	case "optional":
+		return cty.DynamicPseudoType, nil, hcl.Diagnostics{{
+			Severity: hcl.DiagError,
+			Summary:  invalidTypeSummary,
+			Detail:   fmt.Sprintf("Keyword %q is valid only as a modifier for object type attributes.", call.Name),
+			Subject:  call.NameRange.Ptr(),
+		}}
 	default:
 		// Can't access call.Arguments in this path because we've not validated
 		// that it contains exactly one expression here.
-		return cty.DynamicPseudoType, hcl.Diagnostics{{
+		return cty.DynamicPseudoType, nil, hcl.Diagnostics{{
 			Severity: hcl.DiagError,
 			Summary:  invalidTypeSummary,
 			Detail:   fmt.Sprintf("Keyword %q is not a valid type constructor.", call.Name),
@@ -194,3 +309,33 @@ func getType(expr hcl.Expression, constraint bool) (cty.Type, hcl.Diagnostics) {
 		}}
 	}
 }
+
+func collectionDefaults(ty cty.Type, defaults *Defaults) *Defaults {
+	if defaults == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return &Defaults{
+		Type: ty,
+		Children: map[string]*Defaults{
+			"": defaults,
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+func structuredDefaults(ty cty.Type, defaultValues map[string]cty.Value, children map[string]*Defaults) *Defaults {
+	if len(defaultValues) == 0 && len(children) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	defaults := &Defaults{
+		Type: ty,
+	}
+	if len(defaultValues) > 0 {
+		defaults.DefaultValues = defaultValues
+	}
+	if len(children) > 0 {
+		defaults.Children = children
+	}
+
+	return defaults
+}
diff --git a/ext/typeexpr/get_type_test.go b/ext/typeexpr/get_type_test.go
index 391bf4f9..2dca23d2 100644
--- a/ext/typeexpr/get_type_test.go
+++ b/ext/typeexpr/get_type_test.go
@@ -1,16 +1,22 @@
 package typeexpr
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/hashicorp/hcl/v2/gohcl"
 
+	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/hcl/v2"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/hcl/v2/hclsyntax"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/hcl/v2/json"
 	"github.com/zclconf/go-cty/cty"
 )
 
+var (
+	typeComparer = cmp.Comparer(cty.Type.Equals)
+)
+
 func TestGetType(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		Source     string
@@ -103,13 +109,13 @@ func TestGetType(t *testing.T) {
 			`any()`,
 			false,
 			cty.DynamicPseudoType,
-			`Primitive type keyword "any" does not expect arguments.`,
+			`Type constraint keyword "any" does not expect arguments.`,
 		},
 		{
 			`any()`,
 			true,
 			cty.DynamicPseudoType,
-			`Primitive type keyword "any" does not expect arguments.`,
+			`Type constraint keyword "any" does not expect arguments.`,
 		},
 		{
 			`list(string)`,
@@ -245,16 +251,83 @@ func TestGetType(t *testing.T) {
 			cty.List(cty.Map(cty.EmptyTuple)),
 			``,
 		},
+
+		// Optional modifier
+		{
+			`object({name=string,age=optional(number)})`,
+			true,
+			cty.ObjectWithOptionalAttrs(map[string]cty.Type{
+				"name": cty.String,
+				"age":  cty.Number,
+			}, []string{"age"}),
+			``,
+		},
+		{
+			`object({name=string,meta=optional(any)})`,
+			true,
+			cty.ObjectWithOptionalAttrs(map[string]cty.Type{
+				"name": cty.String,
+				"meta": cty.DynamicPseudoType,
+			}, []string{"meta"}),
+			``,
+		},
+		{
+			`object({name=string,age=optional(number)})`,
+			false,
+			cty.Object(map[string]cty.Type{
+				"name": cty.String,
+				"age":  cty.Number,
+			}),
+			`Optional attribute modifier is only for type constraints, not for exact types.`,
+		},
+		{
+			`object({name=string,meta=optional(any)})`,
+			false,
+			cty.Object(map[string]cty.Type{
+				"name": cty.String,
+				"meta": cty.DynamicPseudoType,
+			}),
+			`Optional attribute modifier is only for type constraints, not for exact types.`,
+		},
+		{
+			`object({name=string,meta=optional()})`,
+			true,
+			cty.Object(map[string]cty.Type{
+				"name": cty.String,
+			}),
+			`Optional attribute modifier requires the attribute type as its argument.`,
+		},
+		{
+			`object({name=string,meta=optional(string, "hello")})`,
+			true,
+			cty.Object(map[string]cty.Type{
+				"name": cty.String,
+				"meta": cty.String,
+			}),
+			`Optional attribute modifier expects only one argument: the attribute type.`,
+		},
+		{
+			`optional(string)`,
+			false,
+			cty.DynamicPseudoType,
+			`Keyword "optional" is valid only as a modifier for object type attributes.`,
+		},
+		{
+			`optional`,
+			false,
+			cty.DynamicPseudoType,
+			`The keyword "optional" is not a valid type specification.`,
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
-		t.Run(test.Source, func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("%s (constraint=%v)", test.Source, test.Constraint), func(t *testing.T) {
 			expr, diags := hclsyntax.ParseExpression([]byte(test.Source), "", hcl.Pos{Line: 1, Column: 1})
 			if diags.HasErrors() {
 				t.Fatalf("failed to parse: %s", diags)
 			}
 
-			got, diags := getType(expr, test.Constraint)
+			got, _, diags := getType(expr, test.Constraint, false)
 			if test.WantError == "" {
 				for _, diag := range diags {
 					t.Error(diag)
@@ -326,7 +399,7 @@ func TestGetTypeJSON(t *testing.T) {
 				t.Fatalf("failed to decode: %s", diags)
 			}
 
-			got, diags := getType(content.Expr, test.Constraint)
+			got, _, diags := getType(content.Expr, test.Constraint, false)
 			if test.WantError == "" {
 				for _, diag := range diags {
 					t.Error(diag)
@@ -350,3 +423,247 @@ func TestGetTypeJSON(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestGetTypeDefaults(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		Source    string
+		Want      *Defaults
+		WantError string
+	}{
+		// primitive types have nil defaults
+		{
+			`bool`,
+			nil,
+			"",
+		},
+		{
+			`number`,
+			nil,
+			"",
+		},
+		{
+			`string`,
+			nil,
+			"",
+		},
+		{
+			`any`,
+			nil,
+			"",
+		},
+
+		// complex structures with no defaults have nil defaults
+		{
+			`map(string)`,
+			nil,
+			"",
+		},
+		{
+			`set(number)`,
+			nil,
+			"",
+		},
+		{
+			`tuple([number, string])`,
+			nil,
+			"",
+		},
+		{
+			`object({ a = string, b = number })`,
+			nil,
+			"",
+		},
+		{
+			`map(list(object({ a = string, b = optional(number) })))`,
+			nil,
+			"",
+		},
+
+		// object optional attribute with defaults
+		{
+			`object({ a = string, b = optional(number, 5) })`,
+			&Defaults{
+				Type: cty.ObjectWithOptionalAttrs(map[string]cty.Type{
+					"a": cty.String,
+					"b": cty.Number,
+				}, []string{"b"}),
+				DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+					"b": cty.NumberIntVal(5),
+				},
+			},
+			"",
+		},
+
+		// nested defaults
+		{
+			`object({ a = optional(object({ b = optional(number, 5) }), {}) })`,
+			&Defaults{
+				Type: cty.ObjectWithOptionalAttrs(map[string]cty.Type{
+					"a": cty.ObjectWithOptionalAttrs(map[string]cty.Type{
+						"b": cty.Number,
+					}, []string{"b"}),
+				}, []string{"a"}),
+				DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+					"a": cty.EmptyObjectVal,
+				},
+				Children: map[string]*Defaults{
+					"a": {
+						Type: cty.ObjectWithOptionalAttrs(map[string]cty.Type{
+							"b": cty.Number,
+						}, []string{"b"}),
+						DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+							"b": cty.NumberIntVal(5),
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			"",
+		},
+
+		// collections of objects with defaults
+		{
+			`map(object({ a = string, b = optional(number, 5) }))`,
+			&Defaults{
+				Type: cty.Map(cty.ObjectWithOptionalAttrs(map[string]cty.Type{
+					"a": cty.String,
+					"b": cty.Number,
+				}, []string{"b"})),
+				Children: map[string]*Defaults{
+					"": {
+						Type: cty.ObjectWithOptionalAttrs(map[string]cty.Type{
+							"a": cty.String,
+							"b": cty.Number,
+						}, []string{"b"}),
+						DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+							"b": cty.NumberIntVal(5),
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			"",
+		},
+		{
+			`list(object({ a = string, b = optional(number, 5) }))`,
+			&Defaults{
+				Type: cty.List(cty.ObjectWithOptionalAttrs(map[string]cty.Type{
+					"a": cty.String,
+					"b": cty.Number,
+				}, []string{"b"})),
+				Children: map[string]*Defaults{
+					"": {
+						Type: cty.ObjectWithOptionalAttrs(map[string]cty.Type{
+							"a": cty.String,
+							"b": cty.Number,
+						}, []string{"b"}),
+						DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+							"b": cty.NumberIntVal(5),
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			"",
+		},
+		{
+			`set(object({ a = string, b = optional(number, 5) }))`,
+			&Defaults{
+				Type: cty.Set(cty.ObjectWithOptionalAttrs(map[string]cty.Type{
+					"a": cty.String,
+					"b": cty.Number,
+				}, []string{"b"})),
+				Children: map[string]*Defaults{
+					"": {
+						Type: cty.ObjectWithOptionalAttrs(map[string]cty.Type{
+							"a": cty.String,
+							"b": cty.Number,
+						}, []string{"b"}),
+						DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+							"b": cty.NumberIntVal(5),
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			"",
+		},
+
+		// tuples containing objects with defaults work differently from
+		// collections
+		{
+			`tuple([string, bool, object({ a = string, b = optional(number, 5) })])`,
+			&Defaults{
+				Type: cty.Tuple([]cty.Type{
+					cty.String,
+					cty.Bool,
+					cty.ObjectWithOptionalAttrs(map[string]cty.Type{
+						"a": cty.String,
+						"b": cty.Number,
+					}, []string{"b"}),
+				}),
+				Children: map[string]*Defaults{
+					"2": {
+						Type: cty.ObjectWithOptionalAttrs(map[string]cty.Type{
+							"a": cty.String,
+							"b": cty.Number,
+						}, []string{"b"}),
+						DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+							"b": cty.NumberIntVal(5),
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			"",
+		},
+
+		// incompatible default value causes an error
+		{
+			`object({ a = optional(string, "hello"), b = optional(number, true) })`,
+			&Defaults{
+				Type: cty.ObjectWithOptionalAttrs(map[string]cty.Type{
+					"a": cty.String,
+					"b": cty.Number,
+				}, []string{"a", "b"}),
+				DefaultValues: map[string]cty.Value{
+					"a": cty.StringVal("hello"),
+				},
+			},
+			"This default value is not compatible with the attribute's type constraint: number required.",
+		},
+
+		// Too many arguments
+		{
+			`object({name=string,meta=optional(string, "hello", "world")})`,
+			nil,
+			`Optional attribute modifier expects at most two arguments: the attribute type, and a default value.`,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.Source, func(t *testing.T) {
+			expr, diags := hclsyntax.ParseExpression([]byte(test.Source), "", hcl.Pos{Line: 1, Column: 1})
+			if diags.HasErrors() {
+				t.Fatalf("failed to parse: %s", diags)
+			}
+
+			_, got, diags := getType(expr, true, true)
+			if test.WantError == "" {
+				for _, diag := range diags {
+					t.Error(diag)
+				}
+			} else {
+				found := false
+				for _, diag := range diags {
+					t.Log(diag)
+					if diag.Severity == hcl.DiagError && diag.Detail == test.WantError {
+						found = true
+					}
+				}
+				if !found {
+					t.Errorf("missing expected error detail message: %s", test.WantError)
+				}
+			}
+
+			if !cmp.Equal(test.Want, got, valueComparer, typeComparer) {
+				t.Errorf("wrong result\n%s", cmp.Diff(test.Want, got, valueComparer, typeComparer))
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/ext/typeexpr/public.go b/ext/typeexpr/public.go
index 3b8f618f..82f215c0 100644
--- a/ext/typeexpr/public.go
+++ b/ext/typeexpr/public.go
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ import (
 // successful, returns the resulting type. If unsuccessful, error diagnostics
 // are returned.
 func Type(expr hcl.Expression) (cty.Type, hcl.Diagnostics) {
-	return getType(expr, false)
+	ty, _, diags := getType(expr, false, false)
+	return ty, diags
 }
 
 // TypeConstraint attempts to parse the given expression as a type constraint
@@ -26,7 +27,20 @@ func Type(expr hcl.Expression) (cty.Type, hcl.Diagnostics) {
 // allows the keyword "any" to represent cty.DynamicPseudoType, which is often
 // used as a wildcard in type checking and type conversion operations.
 func TypeConstraint(expr hcl.Expression) (cty.Type, hcl.Diagnostics) {
-	return getType(expr, true)
+	ty, _, diags := getType(expr, true, false)
+	return ty, diags
+}
+
+// TypeConstraintWithDefaults attempts to parse the given expression as a type
+// constraint which may include default values for object attributes. If
+// successful both the resulting type and corresponding defaults are returned.
+// If unsuccessful, error diagnostics are returned.
+//
+// When using this function, defaults should be applied to the input value
+// before type conversion, to ensure that objects with missing attributes have
+// default values populated.
+func TypeConstraintWithDefaults(expr hcl.Expression) (cty.Type, *Defaults, hcl.Diagnostics) {
+	return getType(expr, true, true)
 }
 
 // TypeString returns a string rendering of the given type as it would be