--- title: "S3 Product Description" sidebar_label: "Overview" sidebar_position: 1 description: "How S3 works, what tasks it can be used for, and how to work with it" --- import Formbricks from '@theme/MDXComponents/Formbricks' # S3 Product Description S3 (Object Storage) is a Selectel service for storing and distributing an unlimited volume of unstructured and semi-structured data. S3 is built on a software-defined distributed storage system. Terms of use for the S3 product are defined by the document [Terms of Use for Individual Services: "Object Storage S3"](https://files.selectel.ru/docs/ru/conditions-cloud-storage.pdf) and SLA. By default, S3 [complies with Federal Law No. 152-FZ](/s3/about/152-fz-s3.mdx). S3 can be deployed in different regions and pools; for details, see the [S3](/infrastructure/product-availability-by-location.mdx#object-storage) subsection of the [Product availability by location instructions](/infrastructure/product-availability-by-location.mdx). If mandatory certification of an information system, use of only certified security tools, or processing of personal data of the first and second security levels is required, deploy S3 in the certified [pool](/infrastructure/locations.mdx#pool) gis-1. The product supports [user types and roles](/access-control/access-management.mdx) and [projects](/access-control/projects/about-projects.mdx). Records of S3 operations are saved in [audit logs](/audit-logs/about-audit-logs.mdx). ## Use cases \{#tasks-to-be-solved} S3 is versatile storage that can be used for: * distributing static content (website and application data), data streaming, etc. To speed up content distribution, you can connect [CDN](/cdn/); * [storing backups](/s3/manage/create-backup-on-schedule.mdx) and archives. You can set up scheduled server backups to transfer critical data to S3; * storing large amounts of data for machine learning and analytics; * [hosting static websites](/s3/buckets/website.mdx). ## How it works \{#principle-of-operation} To get started with S3, [create a bucket](/s3/buckets/create-bucket.mdx). You can create a bucket: * in the [control panel](https://my.selectel.ru/storage/default/containers); * using the [S3 API](/api/object-storage-s3/) or [Swift API](/api/object-storage-swift/). You can [upload objects](/s3/objects/upload-object.mdx) to a bucket. Objects inherit bucket settings. S3 has a flat address structure: there are no folders or hierarchies in the storage, allowing you to quickly access objects via HTTP. Each object contains: * data; * a unique identifier used by a hash function to determine the object's location; * metadata. You can add your own metadata to implement a custom data storage and processing system. All data in S3 is replicated. The replication method depends on the selected [pool](/infrastructure/locations.mdx#pool): * [multi-zone pool](/infrastructure/locations.mdx#multi-az-pool) (ru-6) — data replicas are synchronously distributed across three physically isolated data centers. It withstands a complete failure of one data center without data loss or service downtime; * [single-zone pool](/infrastructure/locations.mdx#single-az-pool) (ru-1, ru-3, ru-7, gis-1, uz-2, kz-1) — data replicas are synchronously distributed within a single data center across multiple independent physical servers in different racks. It withstands the failure of individual drives, servers, or racks within a single data center. ## How to use S3 \{#manage-s3} You can work with S3: * via the [S3 API](/api/object-storage-s3/), [Swift API](/api/object-storage-swift/), and [Object Storage API](/api/object-storage/). To work via API, you can use various [tools](/s3/tools/) (Rclone, AWS CLI, s3cmd, and others); * via the [FTP protocol](/s3/tools/ftp/). It uses the Swift API to translate requests to S3; * in the [control panel](https://my.selectel.ru/), which performs requests to S3 via the Swift API and Object Storage API. The control panel has limitations on working with a large number of objects and with large-sized objects; * using [Terraform](/terraform/). After creating a bucket, you can: * manage bucket settings — [bucket type](/s3/buckets/change-bucket-type.mdx), [addressing type](/s3/buckets/addressing-types.mdx), [caching](/s3/manage/cache.mdx); * [manage objects](/s3/objects/) in the bucket; * enable [versioning](/s3/buckets/versioning.mdx); * manage [Object Lock](/s3/buckets/object-lock.mdx) on buckets and objects; * set [bucket limits](/s3/buckets/limits.mdx); * manage [custom domains](/s3/manage/manage-user-domains.mdx); * [manage access](/access-control/access-management.mdx) using user permissions or a bucket [access policy](/s3/buckets/bucket-policy/); * manage [CORS](/s3/buckets/cors.mdx) headers, and more. ## Areas of responsibility \{#areas-of-responsibility} ### Selectel provides \{#selectel-provides} * physical security and fault tolerance of the infrastructure hosting S3; * storage scalability; * secure data storage in compliance with Federal Law No. 152-FZ; * technical support. ### Selectel is not responsible for \{#selectel-disclaimer} * configuring buckets and access to them; * configuration and operability of third-party software for working with S3, as well as integrations; * compliance of stored data with applicable laws. ## Cost \{#price} S3 is billed on a pay-as-you-go model. Funds are deducted hourly from the balance for the previous hour of using [S3 resources](/access-control/projects/about-projects.mdx#selectel-products-that-support-projects). For details, see the [S3 billing models and pricing instructions](/s3/about/payment.mdx). ### What is included in the cost \{#included-in-price} The S3 cost includes: * ability to upload an unlimited number of objects; * unlimited incoming traffic and traffic between Selectel products; * managing S3 using the [API](/api/) and [Terraform](/terraform/). ## Limits and restrictions \{#limits-and-limitations} Selectel sets [S3 entity limits](/s3/about/limitations.mdx#s3-entity-limits) and [API request limits](/s3/about/limitations.mdx#api-requests-limits) per bucket. [Uploading large objects](/s3/objects/upload-object.mdx) via the control panel is restricted.