What is the difference between Object Storage and Block Storage in OCI?

The distinction between Object Storage and Block Storage in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) lies primarily in how data is accessed and stored. Object Storage is designed to handle large amounts of unstructured data and is accessed over HTTP/HTTPS primarily via APIs. This makes it highly suitable for applications that require scalability and interaction, such as web applications, big data analytics, and archiving. The use of APIs allows for efficient data management and retrieval over the internet, which is a fundamental characteristic of cloud-native applications.

On the other hand, Block Storage is intended for persistent storage that is typically connected to virtual machines. It appears as a local disk to the operating system, making it ideal for scenarios requiring low-latency access to data, such as running databases or applications that require high IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second).

This architectural difference allows organizations to choose the appropriate storage solution based on the specific needs of their applications and workloads. As a result, understanding these distinct functionalities is essential for effective cloud architecture and optimization.