Object Storage (S3 / Blob Storage)

Definition

A highly scalable storage architecture that manages data as distinct units (objects) rather than files in a folder hierarchy or blocks on a disk. Objects contain the data, metadata, and a globally unique identifier.

Explain Like I'm New

The infinite cloud bucket. You throw files (images, videos, backups) into the bucket. You don't format drives or worry about running out of space. You get a URL to access the file.

Real World Example

AWS S3, Azure Blob Storage, GCP Cloud Storage. When you upload a profile picture to Facebook, they don't save it on a physical hard drive in a folder. They upload it to Object Storage, which replicates the picture across multiple data centers instantly.

Common Use Cases

•Storing images/videos
•Static website hosting
•Data lakes/backups

Interview Questions

basic

Can you install a Windows Operating System on an Object Storage drive (like S3)?

intermediate

What is a 'Storage Class' or 'Storage Tier' in Object Storage?

Flash Cards

Question

Install an OS?

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Answer

No! Object storage is purely for storing static files. It cannot run operating systems or databases. For that, you need Block Storage.

Question

What are Storage Tiers?

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Answer

Pricing levels based on how often you access data. 'Standard' is for daily access (expensive storage, cheap retrieval). 'Archive/Glacier' is for data you haven't touched in 5 years (incredibly cheap storage, but costs money and takes hours to retrieve).