Understanding Amazon S3: Maximum Object Size Limitation
Understanding Amazon S3: Maximum Object Size Limitation
What is Amazon S3?
Amazon S3 is a highly durable and scalable object storage service that allows users to store and retrieve any amount of data. It’s designed to make web-scale computing easier by providing a simple web service interface to store and retrieve data, anytime, anywhere on the web.
The Maximum Object Size in Amazon S3
The maximum size of an object that can be uploaded to an S3 bucket in a single PUT operation is 5 gigabytes (GB). If you need to upload larger objects, up to a theoretical maximum of 5 terabytes (TB), you’ll need to use the Multipart Upload API.
Understanding Multipart Upload API
Multipart Upload API is a powerful tool provided by Amazon S3 to upload large objects in parts. It allows you to upload parts independently, in any order, and in parallel. You can also pause and resume object uploads, improving your control over data transfer.
How to Use Multipart Upload API
You can use Multipart Upload API in three steps:
Initiate the Multipart Upload: Start by defining the object in a bucket, which returns an upload ID required for subsequent operations.
Upload the Object Parts: Upload the parts using the upload ID. Each part must be at least 5 megabytes (MB) and can be uploaded in any order.
Complete the Multipart Upload: After successfully uploading all parts, complete the multipart upload process. Amazon S3 assembles these parts and creates the object using the upload ID.
Benefits of Using Multipart Upload API
Multipart Upload offers several benefits:
- Efficiency: By uploading parts in parallel, you can maximize your network bandwidth.
- Resilience: If an upload of a part fails, you only need to re-upload that part, not the entire object.
- Flexibility: You can begin an upload before knowing the final object size. This is ideal for streaming data.
Conclusion
In summary, while the maximum object size for a single PUT operation in Amazon S3 is 5 GB, you can circumvent this limit by using the Multipart Upload API. This API not only allows you to upload larger objects up to 5 TB but also provides greater control over data transfer.
By understanding these limitations and the tools Amazon S3 provides, you can make the most of Amazon S3 in your data storage and management strategies.
Keywords: Amazon S3, object storage, maximum object size, Multipart Upload API
The information in this post is accurate as of the date of publication. For the most current information, please refer to the official Amazon S3 documentation.
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