--limit

---
- name: Force limit
  # 'all' is okay here, because the fail task will force the user to specify a limit on the command line, using -l or --limit
  hosts: 'all'

  tasks:
  - name: checking limit arg
    fail:
      msg: "you must use -l or --limit - when you really want to use all hosts, use -l 'all'"
    when: ansible_limit is not defined
    run_once: true

See also

• Ansible: modules, plugins, Playbooks (examples) ansible-playbook, ansible-vault, ansible-inventory, ansible-config, Ansible Tower, Ansible Galaxy (Roles) (ansible-galaxy), ansible-cmdb, gather facts, ansible.cfg, Ansible Molecule, Ansible collections, register, template, --ask-pass, --ask-become-pass, remote_user:, /etc/ansible/hosts, ansible-doc, ansible-lint, .ansible/, --forks, --start-at-task, changelog, inventory, Notify:, ansible HOSTNAME -m ping, gathering, /usr/bin/ansible, ansible -m ping, ansible.builtin, hosts: (Ansible), set fact:, when:, blockinfile:, become method:, include:, git:, AWX, ansible --help, Tags, Ansible variables, versions