S3
Summary
What it is
Amazon's Simple Storage Service and the broader ecosystem of S3-compatible object storage. The root concept of this entire index.
Where it fits
Every node in the index answers the question "How does this relate to S3?" S3 is not just a product — it is the API, the paradigm, and the ecosystem that the rest of the map is built around.
Misconceptions / Traps
- S3 is not a filesystem. It has no directories, no atomic rename, and no POSIX semantics. Treating it like a filesystem causes subtle bugs.
- "S3-compatible" does not mean identical. Consistency guarantees, performance characteristics, and feature coverage vary across providers.
Key Connections
- Root topic — all other Topics connect inward via
scoped_to - Object Storage
scoped_toS3 — S3 is the dominant implementation of the object storage paradigm - S3 API
scoped_toS3 — the HTTP interface that defines the ecosystem - AWS S3
scoped_toS3 — the origin and reference implementation
Definition
What it is
The conceptual root of this index. Encompasses Amazon S3, the ecosystem of S3-compatible object storage, the technologies built on top of it, and the engineering problems that arise at scale.
Why it exists
S3 created the object storage paradigm that underpins modern data infrastructure. Every node in this index answers the question: "How does this relate to S3?"
Relationships
Inbound Relationships
scoped_toResources
The single authoritative reference for all S3 concepts, features, and operational guidance.
The S3 REST API Reference defines every API operation, request/response format, and error code — the ground truth for any S3 integration.
AWS's own performance design patterns covering partitioning, request rate scaling, and throughput optimization for production S3 workloads.
The S3 product landing page provides pricing tiers, storage class overviews, and feature announcements in a single consolidated view.