# Buckets

In <code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud\_object\_storage</code>, a bucket is the primary container for data. Think of it like a directory in a file system where you can store files known as objects. Each object is stored in a bucket and is identified by a unique key, allowing easy retrieval. You can store any number of objects in a bucket and can create up to 500 buckets in a user account.

## Bucket region

A region corresponds to a geographical location where the data inside the buckets will be stored. Different regions have different [<mark style="color:blue;">Endpoints</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/backup-and-storage/ionos-object-storage/endpoints), which are URLs to access the Object Storage.

<code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud\_object\_storage</code> is available in the following regions:

* Berlin, Germany in `eu-central-2` and `eu-central-3`
* Frankfurt, Germany in `de` and `eu-central-4`
* Logroño, Spain in `eu-south-2`
* Lenexa, USA in `us-central-1`

Choosing the right bucket region is crucial for optimizing your cloud storage. Consider the following:

* **Proximity:** Select a region that is close to your application or user base to reduce latency and costs.
* **Redundancy:** For backups, consider a region geographically separate from your primary location to ensure data safety during local outages or disasters.

For information on supported regions based on the [<mark style="color:blue;">Bucket Types</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/backup-and-storage/ionos-object-storage/concepts/bucket-types), see [<mark style="color:blue;">Service availability</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/backup-and-storage/overview#service-availability).

## Naming conventions

When naming buckets and folders, the name must adhere to the following rules:

* Be unique throughout the entire [<mark style="color:blue;">Object Storage</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/backup-and-storage/ionos-object-storage/overview).
* Consists of 3 to 63 characters.
* Starts with a letter or a number.
* Consists of lowercase letters (a-z) and numbers (0-9).
* The use of hyphens (-), periods (.), and underscores (\_) is conditional.

**Note:** The bucket name **must not**:

* End with a period, hyphen, or underscore.
* Include multiple periods in a row (...).
* Contain hyphens next to periods.
* Have the format of an IPv4 address (Example: `192.168.1.4`).
* Contain underscores if the bucket is to be used for auto-tiering later.

Following are a few examples of correct bucket naming:

* `data-storage-2023`
* `userphotos123`
* `backup-archive`
* `1234`

Following are a few examples of incorrect bucket naming:

| **Example**                                                                   | **Reason for Incorrectness**                     |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| `Data-Storage`                                                                | Contains uppercase letters.                      |
| `user.photos`                                                                 | Contains periods which might cause SSL issues.   |
| `a2`                                                                          | Too short, less than 3 characters.               |
| `a-very-long-bucket-name-that-exceeds-sixty-three-characters-in-total-length` | Exceeds the 63—character limit.                  |
| `bucket-`                                                                     | Ends with a hyphen.                              |
| `bucket_with_underscore`                                                      | Allowed but not a recommended naming convention. |


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/backup-and-storage/ionos-object-storage/concepts/buckets.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.