# Object Storage Object storage is a data storage architecture that manages data as objects rather than as files in a hierarchical directory structure or blocks on a disk. Each object includes the data itself, metadata (such as content type, creation date, and custom attributes), and a unique identifier used to retrieve it. Object storage systems are designed for massive scalability, high durability, and cost-effective storage of large amounts of unstructured data. Major object storage services include Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, Azure Blob Storage, and Cloudflare R2. These services provide HTTP-based APIs for uploading, downloading, and managing objects. In API architectures, object storage is commonly used to store file uploads, static assets, logs, and backups. API gateways can route file upload requests directly to object storage services, generate pre-signed URLs for secure direct uploads, or serve static content from object storage. Cloudflare R2 is notable for its zero-egress-fee pricing model, making it cost-effective for serving large files through APIs. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.serverlessapigateway.com/glossary/o/object-storage.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.