---
title: "Objects \u0026 Its Associated Elements"
url: https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cloud-scale/help/stratus/objects/introduction/
description: "Stratus is a robust cloud storage solution powered by Catalyst. You can store data of any format type in the form of buckets and objects."
last_updated: 2026-09-08T11:07:33Z
service: Cloud Scale
type: general
related_links:
  - name: "Create a Bucket"
    url: /en/cloud-scale/help/stratus/buckets/create-bucket/
  - name: "Upload an Object"
    url: /en/cloud-scale/help/stratus/objects/upload-object/
  - name: "Object Versioning"
    url: /en/cloud-scale/help/stratus/stratus-config/general-settings/#versioning
  - name: "Java SDK"
    url: /en/sdk/java/v1/cloud-scale/stratus/overview/
  - name: "JavaScript SDK"
    url: /en/sdk/javascript/v1/cloudscale/stratus/overview/
  - name: "Python SDK"
    url: /en/sdk/python/v1/cloud-scale/stratus/overview/
  - name: "iOS SDK"
    url: /en/sdk/ios/v2/cloud-scale/stratus/overview/
  - name: "Android SDK"
    url: /en/sdk/android/v2/cloud-scale/stratus/overview/
  - name: "Flutter SDK"
    url: /en/sdk/flutter/v2/cloud-scale/stratus/overview/
  - name: "REST API"
    url: /en/api/code-reference/cloud-scale/stratus/get-all-buckets/#GetAllBuckets
---

# Objects

Objects are the data you store in buckets. Objects can be of any format type, and each of them can be accessed using an **Object URL** generated by Stratus.

![catalyst_stratus_object_view](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/stratus/catalyst_stratus_object_view.webp)

<!--Once [Caching](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cloud-scale/help/stratus/stratus-config/general-settings/#caching) is enabled, a **Caching URL** will be generated when objects are uploaded to the bucket. Objects that are accessed using this URL will be cached.-->

### Object URL

This is a unique URL generated by Stratus to uniquely identify and securely access the object you upload to a bucket. 

![catalyst_stratus_object_view_urls](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/stratus/catalyst_stratus_object_view_urls.webp)

If you have enabled [Versioning](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cloud-scale/help/stratus/stratus-config/general-settings/#versioning) for your bucket, then you can access each version of the object by using query params in the **Object URL** in a key value format. `versionId` being the key and the value being the string value generated by Stratus when you upload a version of the object.

The Object URL will be in the following formats:

* In [development environment](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/deployment-and-billing/environments/development-environment/):

**https://&lt;bucket-name&gt;-development.zohostratus.com/&lt;object-name&gt;**
    
    For example: **https<span></span>://mappedsample-development.zohostratus.com/Archive.zip**

* In [production environment](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/deployment-and-billing/environments/production-environment/):

**https://&lt;bucket-name&gt;.zohostratus.com/&lt;object-name&gt;**

    For example: **https<span></span>://mappedsample.zohostratus.com/Archive.zip**

* With **Versioning** enabled:

**https://&lt;bucket-name&gt;-development.zohostratus.com/&lt;object-name&gt;?versionid={versionid}**

    For example: **https<span></span>://mappedsample-development.zohostratus.com/Archive.zip?versionid=1233487326**

> **Note:** Object URLs' structures are subject to change based on the **DCs** they are created in a similar manner to [Bucket URLs](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cloud-scale/help/stratus/buckets/create-bucket/#bucket-url).

### Path

Path is the location of an object in the bucket. When you create a bucket and upload objects in it, their path is created in the standard directory format.

![catalyst_stratus_object_view_path](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/stratus/catalyst_stratus_object_view_path.webp)

For example, imagine you create a bucket named "**MyPictures**". You can either create sub-paths in the bucket and store the objects in them, or directly store the objects. In this example, there is a sub-path with the name "**puppies**", and this path has an object named "**border_collie.jpeg**".

The object is stored in the following path:

**MyPictures/puppies/border_collie.jpeg**

> **Note:** 

* A path can **never be empty**. It will either contain further paths to hold objects, or objects itself.

* The following characters including space are not supported when you create a path or an object: double quote, both angular brackets, hashtag, backward slash and pipe symbol.

* The path name and the object name should not start with a space character or a special character.

### Metadata

![catalyst_stratus_objects_view_meta_info](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/help/stratus/catalyst_stratus_objects_view_meta_info.webp)

* You can provide custom information about the object in key value pair format using the Metadata option.

* You can use alphanumeric, underscores, or whitespace characters, as well as hyphens, to write your metadata. No other special character is allowed other than the ones mentioned.

* You can fetch the metadata of an object using the `HEAD` request method. In the response, the metadata will be listed in the key '`x-user-meta`'.

* The maximum size limit of characters allowed for the overall metadata is **2047** characters. The character count used to determine the size limit also includes the colon ":" special character used to define the key value pair.