Introduction to Azure Storage
Azure Storage offers a highly available, secure, and scalable cloud storage solution. It provides a range of services designed to store and access data, from blobs and files to queues and tables.
Key benefits of Azure Storage include:
- Durability and Availability: Data is replicated across multiple locations to ensure it's always accessible.
- Scalability: Effortlessly scales to meet your growing data needs.
- Security: Robust security features, including encryption and access control.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Tiered storage options to optimize costs.
- Broad Accessibility: Access your data from anywhere via REST APIs or SDKs.
Core Azure Storage Services
Blob Storage
Massively scalable object store for unstructured data like text or binary data. Ideal for serving images or documents directly to a browser, storing files for distributed access, or backing up data.
File Storage
Fully managed cloud file shares that are accessible via the industry-standard Server Message Block (SMB) protocol. Mount shares on-premises or in the cloud for shared access.
Queue Storage
Store large numbers of messages that can be processed asynchronously. Useful for decoupling application components and scaling work.
Table Storage
NoSQL key-attribute store for semi-structured data. Offers a schema-less design, allowing for rapid development and fast access to large datasets.
Disk Storage
High-performance, durable managed disks for Azure Virtual Machines. Available in various performance tiers to suit different workloads.
Getting Started with Azure Storage
Quickstart Guides
Begin with our step-by-step guides to set up your first storage account and perform basic operations.
Example: Create and manage blobs
Azure CLI Examples
Learn how to manage your storage resources using the Azure Command-Line Interface (CLI).
# Create a storage account
az storage account create \
--name mystorageaccountname \
--resource-group myresourcegroup \
--sku Standard_LRS \
--kind StorageV2
# List containers in a storage account
az storage container list \
--account-name mystorageaccountname \
--auth-mode login
SDK Documentation
Explore the Azure Storage SDKs for various programming languages (Python, Java, .NET, Node.js, etc.) to integrate storage into your applications.
Common Use Cases
Azure Storage is versatile and can be used for:
- Web Hosting: Static website hosting with Blob Storage.
- Big Data Analytics: Storing and processing large datasets with Azure Data Lake Storage.
- Backup and Disaster Recovery: Securely backing up application data.
- Application Data: Storing user-generated content, logs, and configuration.
- Media Streaming: Delivering rich media content efficiently.