Difference between Block storage and Object storage

The key differences between block storage and object storage on AWS are:

  1. Data Structure:

    • Block storage, like Amazon EBS, stores data in fixed-size blocks that can be accessed and modified independently.
    • Object storage, like Amazon S3, stores data as objects, which can be of any size or format, with associated metadata.

  2. Access Pattern:

    • Block storage provides low-latency, high-throughput access to data from a single EC2 instance.
    • Object storage is designed for internet-scale, highly durable, and highly available access to data.

  3. Use Cases:

    • Block storage is suitable for applications that require persistent data storage, such as databases and file systems.
    • Object storage is suitable for a wide range of use cases, such as backup, archiving, web hosting, and big data analytics.

  4. Scalability:

    • Block storage is typically scaled by adding more volumes or increasing the size of existing volumes.
    • Object storage is designed to scale automatically to handle internet-scale data volumes.

  5. Durability and Availability:

    • Block storage provides high durability and availability within a single Availability Zone.
    • Object storage, like Amazon S3, provides high durability and availability across multiple Availability Zones.

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