Difference between Object, Block, and File storage?

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ICSM · Answer

1. File Storage (the classic one)
What it is
Data is stored as files inside folders (directories). Exactly how your laptop works.
How you access it
Path-based access
/documents/reports/2025.pdf
Key traits
Hierarchical (folders → subfolders → files)Easy to understandShared access (multiple users can mount it)
Best for
File sharing systemsHome directoriesCMS content (images, PDFs)Legacy applications
Examples
Windows File ServerNFSSMBAmazon EFS
Limitation
Doesn’t scale infinitelySlower with massive numbers of files
2. Block Storage (the performance beast)
What it is
Dr fileata is split into fixed-size blocks, each with an address—but
no metadata o structure.
The OS builds a file system on top of it.
How you access it
Attached directly to a server (like a virtual hard disk)
Key traits
Very fastLow latencyFine-grained read/write
Best for
DatabasesVirtual machine disksTransaction-heavy appsERP systems
Examples
Amazon EBSAzure Managed DisksSAN
Limitation
Usually attached to one server at a timeScaling requires manual management
3. Object Storage (the cloud-native giant)
What it is
Data is stored as objects, each containing:
The data itselfMetadataA unique ID
No folders—just a flat namespace.
How you access it
HTTP/HTTPS via APIs
GET /bucket/object-id
Key traits
Massive scalabilityMetadata-richCost-effectiveBuilt for the internet
Best for
Images, videos, backupsLogsBig dataStatic website hosting
Examples
Amazon S3Azure Blob StorageGoogle Cloud Storage
Limitation
Higher latency than block storageNot ideal for frequent small updates
Quick comparison
Feature
File Storage
Block Storage
Object Storage
Structure
Folder-based
Raw blocks
Flat objects
Access
File path
Disk-level
REST API
Performance
Medium
Very high
Medium–low
Scalability
Limited
Moderate
Massive
Best for
Shared files
Databases
Media and backups
One-line analogy
File storage → A filing cabinet
Block storage → A high-speed hard drive
Object storage → A global warehouse with barcodes
and

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Difference between Object, Block, and File storage?

ICSM

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1 Answers

1. File Storage (the classic one)

2. Block Storage (the performance beast)

3. Object Storage (the cloud-native giant)

Quick comparison

One-line analogy

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Feature	File Storage	Block Storage	Object Storage
Structure	Folder-based	Raw blocks	Flat objects
Access	File path	Disk-level	REST API
Performance	Medium	Very high	Medium–low
Scalability	Limited	Moderate	Massive
Best for	Shared files	Databases	Media & backups