object storage
compound.compound. a way of saving computer data as separate pieces called objects. Each object includes the data itself, extra information about it, and a unique ID so it is easy to find in a large system.
compound. a computer data storage architecture that manages data as objects, as opposed to other storage architectures like file systems which manage data as a file hierarchy. Each object typically includes the data itself, a variable amount of metadata, and a unique identifier.
Cloud companies often use object storage for photos and videos.
The engineering team moved their backup archives to object storage to take advantage of its massive scalability and lower costs.
Unlike traditional block storage, object storage allows for extensive custom metadata, enabling more efficient data indexing and retrieval across distributed cloud environments.
A compound of the noun object, denoting a discrete item, and the noun storage. The term emerged from academic research into object-based storage device (OSD) architectures during the late 1990s.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Often functions as a compound noun in technical and computing contexts.
Last updated July 22, 2026