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HELP CENTER · FAQObject Storage2 min read

How do object versioning and deletion work together?

Versioning can preserve earlier object contents when a key is overwritten or deleted, depending on the storage service's behavior. It improves recovery from accidental changes, but does not by itself provide a complete backup or guarantee that old versions remain available forever.

Object Storage

Understand what a delete does

In a versioned bucket, a normal delete may create a marker that hides the current object while leaving previous versions stored. A permanent deletion may require identifying and removing individual versions, so review the provider's exact semantics before writing cleanup code.

Version history can multiply storage use when frequently updated objects are large. Define lifecycle rules for noncurrent versions only after considering recovery windows, legal retention, and whether an application still references older versions.

Test recovery and retention

Practice restoring a prior version to a new key or explicitly promoting it, and check how metadata and access controls are handled. Make sure operators understand the difference between hiding an object and permanently removing its versions.

Combine versioning with separate backups or replication when the recovery plan requires protection from account-wide mistakes or service incidents. Monitor lifecycle actions and test that deletion requests behave as intended across versions.

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