💾Key Takeaways
- 1Block storage: raw disk volumes, highest performance, used by databases (AWS EBS)
- 2Object storage: unlimited scale, HTTP API, cheap, used for files/images/backups (S3)
- 3File storage: shared filesystem, traditional NFS, used for legacy apps and shared access
- 4In-memory storage: fastest but volatile, used for caching and real-time processing (Redis)
Choosing the Right Storage Layer
Every system needs storage, but not all storage is created equal. The choice between block, object, file, and in-memory storage determines performance, cost, scalability, and access patterns.
Storage Types Compared
| Type | Latency | Scalability | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Block (EBS, SAN) | ~1-2ms (SSD) | Limited (per-instance) | $0.10/GB/mo | Databases, boot volumes |
| Object (S3, GCS) | ~50-100ms | Unlimited | $0.023/GB/mo | Images, videos, backups, data lake |
| File (EFS, NFS) | ~5-10ms | Moderate | $0.30/GB/mo | Shared config, legacy apps |
| In-Memory (Redis) | ~0.1ms | Limited by RAM | $$$ | Cache, sessions, leaderboards |
Advantages
- •Each type is optimized for its use case
- •Object storage is extremely cost-effective at scale
- •In-memory storage provides sub-millisecond latency
Disadvantages
- •Block storage doesn't scale horizontally well
- •Object storage has higher latency than block/memory
- •Mixing storage types adds operational complexity
🧪 Test Your Understanding
Knowledge Check1/1
Which storage type is best for storing user-uploaded images?