What is S3 ?

What is S3 ?

Simple Definition:

An online bulk storage service that you can access from almost any device.

AWS Definition:

Amazon S3 has a single web services interface that you can use to store and retrieve any amount of data at any time, from anywhere on the web. It gives any user access to the same highly scalable, reliable, fast, inexpensive data storage infrastructure that amazon uses to run its own global network of web sites. The service aims to maximize benefits of scale and to pass those benefits on to users.

S3 Components and Structure.

Basics:

1. S3 = simple storage service.
2. It is AWS's primary storage service.
3. You can store any type of file in S3.

Buckets:

1. Root level "Folders" you create in S3 are referred to as buckets.
2. Any subfolder you create in a bucket is referred to as a folder.

Objects:

1. Files stored in a bucket are reffered to as objects.

Regions:

1. When you create a bucket, you must select a specific region for it to exist. This means that any data you upload to the S3 bucket will be physically located in a data center in that region.
2. Best practice is to select the region that is physically closest to you, to reduce transfer latency.
(OR)
3. If you are serving files to a customer based in a certain area of the world, create the bucket in a region closest to your customers (to reduce latency for your customers).

Note: Some AWS services only work with/communicate with each other if they are in the same AWS region.

Pricing/Cost Overview:

- Free Tier use is available for S3.

How are you charged for using S3 ?

Storage Cost:

1. Applies to data at rest in S3.
2. Charged per GB used.
3. Price per GB varies based on region and storage class.

Request Pricing - moving data in/out of S3.

1. PUT
2. COPY
3. POST
4. LIST
5. GET
6. Lifecycle transitions request
7. Data retrieval
8. Data archive
9. Data restore

Note: Before doing any major usage of S3, you should make sure to review AWS's current pricing model to make sure you understand how much you will be required to pay.