Upload Blobs to Azure Storage

This document provides detailed guidance on how to upload blobs to Azure Blob Storage using various methods. Azure Blob Storage is a massively scalable object store for unstructured data like text or binary data. Any amount of data can be stored and accessed from anywhere in the world via HTTP or HTTPS.

Note: Ensure you have an Azure Storage account created before proceeding. You can create one in the Azure portal.

Methods for Uploading Blobs

You can upload blobs using the following methods:

Azure CLI
Azure PowerShell
Azure Storage SDKs (e.g., .NET, Java, Python, Node.js)
Azure Storage Explorer
REST API

Using Azure CLI

The Azure Command-Line Interface (CLI) is a powerful tool for managing Azure resources. Here's how to upload a blob using the CLI:

Install Azure CLI: If you haven't already, install the Azure CLI.
Log in to Azure:
```
az login
```
Upload a blob: Use the az storage blob upload command. Replace placeholders with your actual values.
```
az storage blob upload \
    --account-name  \
    --container-name  \
    --name  \
    --file  \
    --auth-mode login
```
Explanation of parameters:
- --account-name: Your Azure Storage account name.
- --container-name: The name of the container where you want to upload the blob.
- --name: The name you want to give the blob in the container.
- --file: The local path to the file you want to upload.
- --auth-mode login: Authenticates using your Azure AD login. You can also use --account-key or a connection string.

Using Azure Storage SDK for .NET

The Azure Storage SDK for .NET simplifies interacting with Azure Storage services. Here's a C# example:

using Azure.Storage.Blobs;
using System;
using System.IO;

public class BlobUploader
{
    public static void UploadBlob(string connectionString, string containerName, string blobName, string filePath)
    {
        try
        {
            BlobServiceClient blobServiceClient = new BlobServiceClient(connectionString);
            BlobContainerClient containerClient = blobServiceClient.GetBlobContainerClient(containerName);

            using (FileStream uploadFileStream = File.OpenRead(filePath))
            {
                BlobClient blobClient = containerClient.GetBlobClient(blobName);
                blobClient.Upload(uploadFileStream, true); // true to overwrite if blob exists
                Console.WriteLine($"Successfully uploaded '{blobName}' to container '{containerName}'.");
            }
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            Console.WriteLine($"Error uploading blob: {ex.Message}");
        }
    }

    // Example usage:
    // public static void Main(string[] args)
    // {
    //     string connString = "YOUR_STORAGE_CONNECTION_STRING";
    //     string container = "my-sample-container";
    //     string blob = "my-sample-blob.txt";
    //     string file = "local-file-to-upload.txt";
    //     UploadBlob(connString, container, blob, file);
    // }
}

Tip: For large files, consider using parallel uploads for improved performance.

Using Azure Storage Explorer

Azure Storage Explorer is a free, downloadable application that enables you to easily manage your Azure cloud storage resources from Windows, macOS, or Linux.

Download and install Azure Storage Explorer.
Sign in to your Azure account.
Navigate to your storage account and the desired container.
Click the "Upload" button and select "Upload Files..." or "Upload Folder...".
Choose the file(s) or folder you want to upload and confirm.

Considerations for Uploading

Blob Types: Understand the difference between block blobs, append blobs, and page blobs. Block blobs are the most common type for general-purpose object storage.
Size Limits: Be aware of the maximum blob size limits for your storage account tier.
Authentication: Securely manage access to your storage account using Azure AD, shared access signatures (SAS), or account keys. Prefer Azure AD where possible.
Error Handling: Implement robust error handling in your applications to manage network issues or storage service errors.

For more advanced scenarios, such as managing metadata, setting access tiers during upload, or performing conditional uploads, refer to the official Azure Blob Storage documentation.