The Differences Between File Storage, Block Storage and Object Storage

What is file storage?

Files, folders and directories that you see daily are stored using file storage. File storage is best understood as a layer between the operating system and filesystem on the storage medium.

Hierarchical storage
A defining characteristic of file storage is its hierarchical method of storage. Data is stored in an organized manner on disks in folders and directories, making it easily interpretable for humans. In fact, storing files on your personal laptop works exactly the same way.

Local or Network storage
Where the data is stored can vary. This can happen locally, for example, via a hard disk on the web server. Another method is storage via the network. This means that somewhere centrally in the data center there are multiple storage media that can be reached via the network. The latter is also called Network Attached Storage (NAS).

 

What is block storage?

Block storage works differently than file storage. With block storage, there are usually storage media that are made suitable for network storage. With block storage, a disk is divided into maximum volumes (e.g., 2 terabytes) and then linked to an operating system.

Blocks of data
The stored data in the block storage method consists of multiple blocks of the same size. With block storage, the data is essentially chopped into multiple pieces ("blocks") of the same size.

Unique Address
The blocks contain no metadata, but each receives a unique address. This address matches with the stored data. When the data is called, the technology checks whether the addresses match. Do the addresses match? Then the file becomes visible on the computer. Block storage is generally used for 'low-level' data. This makes block storage particularly suitable for, for example, databases, virtual images or backup data such as snapshots.

 

What is object storage?

Object storage differs fundamentally from the other two. With object storage, a file is stored as an object. What's special about object storage is that it can also run on 'regular hardware'. With file storage and block storage, you are generally bound to the maximum capacity of the storage medium. With object storage, you can expand more easily because you determine which machine you use as a storage medium. In theory, you could even use a Raspberry Pi as an object storage system, although in terms of processing power it won't always be able to handle the processing of large amounts of data.

Quickly add capacity
Choosing your own storage medium has many advantages. When a storage medium fills up, you can quickly add a new storage medium, making scalability endless. You can add as many devices as you want.

Multi-datacenter
Another major advantage is the replicability of data. Through the choice of your own storage media, it is much more efficient to store data in a multi-datacenter setup. This means that data is stored in multiple locations. So if the data is deleted for any reason, it can always be found in a second or third data center.

RESTful API's
Object storage also works differently than a nested tree structure, where everything is stored in an organized and hierarchical manner. With object storage, data is not stored hierarchically.

To us as humans, that seems messy, but the opposite is true. Each object is assigned a unique ID. As a developer, you can call these objects directly using a RESTful API. With HTML commands such as 'GET', 'POST', 'PUT' and 'DELETE', the files can be accessed.

 

What is Cloud Object Storage used for?

Object storage is used for many applications. Depending on the provider, you can use it for various purposes. At True, for example, you can use it for static content. Think of storing PDFs, but also CSS files or backup files such as snapshots. For static content and large amounts of data, cloud object storage is extremely suitable.

Grow limitlessly without restrictions 🌱

Grow without restrictions, while data remains quickly and easily accessible. With cloud object storage, you serve content faster and keep more space available on your web server. The service is multi-datacenter by default and extremely suitable for storing static content.