What is Amazon S3 and how does it work?

Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service) is a cloud-based object storage service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS). It allows users to store and retrieve any amount of data, at any time and from anywhere on the web. With S3, users can store and retrieve data from a highly-scalable, reliable, and secure cloud-based infrastructure.

S3 provides an interface to store and retrieve objects, which can range in size from a few kilobytes to terabytes. Objects are stored in buckets, which are containers for objects, and can be organized and managed in a hierarchical directory structure. S3 also provides features such as versioning, access controls, and lifecycle policies, allowing users to manage and automate the retention and deletion of objects.

S3 works on a pay-as-you-go model, which means users only pay for the storage they use, without the need for upfront costs or minimum fees. Users can also choose from different storage classes, which offer different levels of durability, availability, and performance, depending on the user's specific needs and budget.