What is AWS S3?

AWS S3 (Simple Storage Service) is like Google Drive / Dropbox, but for applications and companies.

You can store:

• 📄 Files (PDF, Word, Excel)
• 🖼 Images
• 🎵 Audio / 🎥 Videos
• 🗂 Backups
• 🌐 Website files (HTML, CSS, JS)

S3 = Online storage on AWS cloud

Basic S3 terms (must know)

👉 Bucket = Folder
 👉 Object = File

Step 1: Create AWS Account

Create & Login AWS account.

Step 2: Login to AWS Console

1. Login to 👉 https://console.aws.amazon.com
2. In search bar, type S3
3. Click S3

You will see Amazon S3 dashboard

Step 3: Create Your First S3 Bucket

1. Click Create bucket
2. Fill details:

Bucket name

• Must be unique globally
• Example:demo-bucket-2026

Region

• Choose Asia Pacific (Mumbai) (best for India)

1. Leave all settings default
2. Scroll down → Click Create bucket

🎉 Bucket created!

Step 4: Upload Files to S3 Bucket

1. Click your bucket name
2. Click Upload
3. Click Add files
4. Select any file (PDF, image, mp3)
5. Click Upload

✅ File uploaded successfully

Step 5: Access File (Public or Private)

By default → files are PRIVATE

To make file public:

1. Click on uploaded file
2. Go to Permissions
3. Click Edit
4. Enable:☑ Read – Everyone (public access)
5. Save changes

Now click Object URL

🔗 Anyone can open/download the file

Step 6: Folder Structure in S3 (Important)

You can create folders:

1. Inside bucket → Click Create folder
2. Name:

• images/ documents/ backups/

Upload files inside folders → clean structure

Step 7: Delete File or Bucket

Delete file

• Select file → Delete

Delete bucket

• Empty bucket first
• Then delete bucket

Step 8: Common Real-Life Uses of S3

 ✔ Website images & videos
 ✔ Resume & document storage
 ✔ App file uploads
 ✔ Backup of databases
 ✔ Static website hosting

Step 9: Simple S3 Pricing (Easy)

Free Tier (12 months):

• 5 GB storage free
• 20,000 GET requests free

After free tier:

• Very cheap (₹1–₹2 per GB/month approx)

💡 You only pay for what you use

Step 10: Next Level (Optional — After Basics)

Once comfortable, learn:

• S3 + EC2 (server)
• S3 + CloudFront (fast delivery)
• S3 lifecycle rules (auto delete old files)
• S3 IAM permissions (security)

One-Line Summary

AWS S3 is cloud storage where you create buckets, upload files, control access, and pay only for usage.

S3 Structure

AWS S3
 └── Bucket (Main Folder)
 ├── images/
 │ ├── logo.png
 │ └── banner.jpg
 │
 ├── documents/
 │ ├── resume.pdf
 │ └── invoice.docx
 │
 └── backup.zip

📌 Rules

• One Bucket
• Inside bucket → Folders
• Inside folders → Files (Objects)