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System Design: A Blob Store

System Design: A Blob Store

Define a blob store, a core system design component for managing large volumes of unstructured data. Explain why applications such as YouTube rely on blob storage, and examine concepts such as access tiers and data life cycle management.

What is a blob store?

A blob store is a storage solution for unstructured data, such as photos, audio, video, and binaries.

Data is stored as a blobA blob (binary large object) consists of a collection of binary data stored as a single unit.. Unlike hierarchical file systems with directories, blob stores use a flat organization pattern. Blob stores are ideal for applications that require write-once, read-many (WORM) storage. Data is written once, read frequently, and rarely modified.

For example, in systems like Microsoft Azure, blobs are immutable for a set interval to protect critical data.

A blob store storing and streaming large unstructured files like audio, video, images, and documents
A blob store storing and streaming large unstructured files like audio, video, images, and documents

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System

Blob Store

Netflix

S3

YouTube

Google Cloud Storage

Facebook

Tectonic

Cloud providers like Azure optimize cost and performance using storage access tiers.

Azure storage access tiers

Azure offers storage tiers tailored to specific usage patterns and access frequencies.