Definition
Object storage is a data storage architecture that manages data as discrete units called objects, rather than as files in a hierarchy or blocks on a disk. Each object contains the data itself, metadata describing the data, and a unique identifier. This approach allows for virtually limitless scalability and efficient management of unstructured data. In practice, objects are stored in a flat address space, making them easily accessible via APIs over a network. Object storage is crucial for big data analytics, cloud-native applications, and archiving due to its cost-effectiveness and durability. For instance, a cloud provider might use object storage to host website assets like images and videos. Unlike block storage, which presents raw disk volumes, or file storage, which uses a hierarchical file system, object storage treats data as self-contained units. This concept is frequently tested in cloud and security certifications like AWS SAA and CCSP.