Cloud Storage: Object vs Block vs File

Short summary

A beginner-friendly comparison of cloud storage types: object (S3) for web-accessible blobs, block (EBS) for single-server disks and databases, and file (EFS) for shared multi-server access. The article includes a mental model table, common mistakes (public buckets, databases on S3, ignoring storage tiers), and basic S3 CLI commands. Default recommendation: object storage for most file storage needs.

• •Object storage (S3) = web warehouse for blobs, cheapest and most durable, the default choice
• •Block storage (EBS) = fast disk for one server, use for OS volumes and databases
• •File storage (EFS) = shared folder for multiple servers, highest cost per GB

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