---
title: "What is object storage?"
description: "Object storage is a bucket API that holds blobs addressed by key. A database may point at those keys instead of copying every byte."
url: "https://pixeltable.com/learn/what-is-object-storage"
updated: "2026-09-29"
vertical: "Storage"
doc: "https://docs.pixeltable.com/overview/quick-start"
---

# What is object storage?

Object storage is a bucket API that holds blobs addressed by key. A database may point at those keys instead of copying every byte.

Updated: 2026-09-29


## On this page

- [How it works](https://pixeltable.com/learn/what-is-object-storage#how-it-works)
- [What it is not](https://pixeltable.com/learn/what-is-object-storage#what-it-is-not)
- [Comparison](https://pixeltable.com/learn/what-is-object-storage#comparison)
- [Where Pixeltable fits](https://pixeltable.com/learn/what-is-object-storage#where-pixeltable-fits)
- [Questions](https://pixeltable.com/learn/what-is-object-storage#questions)

## How it works {#how-it-works}


- You put a blob at a key.
- A typed column can reference that key.
- The bucket provider bills storage and, often, transfer. That bill is not the database’s.

## What it is not {#what-it-is-not}

It is not a multimodal catalog, and a bucket with low egress fees is not a CDN.

## object storage: this, and the thing it is confused with {#comparison}

|  | This | Not this |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unit | A blob and a key | A row with a type |
| Query | Get by key | Similarity or a column expression |
| Catalog | Optional, in front | The bucket itself |

## Where Pixeltable fits {#where-pixeltable-fits}

Pixeltable can point media columns at S3-compatible buckets and Hugging Face buckets you already run.

## Questions {#questions}

### How does object storage work? {#faq-1}

You put a blob at a key. A typed column can reference that key. The bucket provider bills storage and, often, transfer. That bill is not the database’s.

### What is object storage often confused with? {#faq-2}

It is not a multimodal catalog, and a bucket with low egress fees is not a CDN.

## In the blog

- [S3 Files, Hugging Face Buckets, and the Storage Problem Pixeltable Already Solved](https://pixeltable.com/blog/s3-files-huggingface-buckets-pixeltable-storage)

## Related

- [Documentation](https://docs.pixeltable.com/overview/quick-start)
- [S3 Files, Hugging Face Buckets, and the Storage Problem Pixeltable Already Solved](https://pixeltable.com/blog/s3-files-huggingface-buckets-pixeltable-storage)
- [Understanding Pixeltable Storage: The Four-Layer Architecture That Powers Multimodal AI](https://pixeltable.com/blog/understanding-pixeltable-storage-architecture)