# S3 shared storage
<a name="s3-shared-storage"></a>

S3 shared storage is active in every project with no setup required, giving all project members immediate read and write access. Saves are visible to all members instantly on a last-write-wins basis, meaning if two members edit the same artifact concurrently, the most recent save overwrites the previous version without warning. S3 shared storage is appropriate for scratch work, temporary artifacts, and anything that does not require version history or attribution.

## Key benefits
<a name="s3-key-benefits"></a>

S3 shared storage provides the following benefits:
+ Simple file management
+ Easy file sharing with drag-and-drop between folders
+ Availability in all regions where Amazon S3 is supported

## Auto-save behavior
<a name="s3-auto-save"></a>

Notebooks autosave continuously, and you cannot turn off this behavior. Query Editor, Visual ETL, and Workflows require you to save explicitly before changes are written.

## Storage in JupyterLab and Code Editor
<a name="s3-storage-in-ides"></a>

JupyterLab and Code Editor provide two storage locations:

Local storage  
A private EBS volume visible only to you, offering low-latency access with no versioning. Local storage has the following characteristics:  
+ Includes the root folder and subfolders (except shared)
+ Serves as your private workspace
+ Ideal for frequent file access
+ Visible only in your space
+ Isolated from other project members

Shared storage  
The same S3 shared storage accessible from all tools, mounted as the `shared/` folder. Shared storage has the following characteristics:  
+ Files are visible to all project members
+ Functions as a collaborative workspace
+ Accessible across all tools
+ Updates immediately when any member adds or modifies files
+ Not well-suited for heavy file read/write workloads due to remote Amazon S3 origin

## File Explorer in web-based tools
<a name="s3-file-explorer"></a>

When you use web-based tools such as Query Editor and Visual ETL, you interact with files through a unified File Explorer interface. You can perform the following operations:
+ Create, edit, and delete files and folders
+ Upload and download files
+ Access version history (when available)
+ Edit files directly within the source

All web-based tools offer optional auto-save functionality.