What is object storage?
Object storage or object-based storage is a system for storing data which uses a flat structure and breaks files into pieces that can be spread out among storage hardware. Data is broken into discrete units, known as objects, and given a unique identifier that lets the object be found in a distributed system, along with detailed metadata that describes data.
What is object storage vs. file storage?
File storage stores data in files and folders, much like a paper filing system. Each file has a limited set of metadata that includes the name, date of creation and date the file was last modified. File storage works well to a point, but as data volumes grow, file storage performance can suffer and create bottlenecks.
What are the benefits of object storage?
Object storage is highly cost-efficient, as organizations pay only for the amount of storage used. It can scale easily and accommodate vast quantities of data. Object storage enables faster retrieval of data, helping organizations accelerate time-to-insight. And the use of detailed metadata makes object storage perfect for storing unstructured data.