> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://karansingh.gitbook.io/aws-saa-c02/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://karansingh.gitbook.io/aws-saa-c02/ec2-storage-ebs-efs-instance-store/instance-store.md).

# Instance Store

* An instance store provides **temporary block-level storage** for your instance.<br>

* This storage is **located on disks that are physically attached to the host computer**.
  * **Very high IOPS** because it is attached physically.<br>

* Instance store is **ideal for temporary storage of information that changes frequently**, such as **buffers, caches, scratch data, and other temporary content**, or **for data that is replicated across a fleet of instances**, such as a load-balanced pool of web servers.<br>

* The **instance type determines the size of the instance store available and the type of hardware used** for the instance store volumes.<br>

* Instance store **volumes are included as part of the instance's usage cost**.<br>

* You **can specify instance store volumes for an instance only when you launch it**.<br>

* You **can't detach an instance store volume from one instance and attach it to a different instance**.

* The data in an instance store **persists only during the lifetime of its associated instance**.<br>

* **If an instance reboots, data in the instance store persists**.<br>
  * However, **data in the instance store is lost under any of the following circumstances:1**

    * The **underlying disk drive fails**
    * The **instance stops or hibernates or terminates**

* **Do not rely on instance store for valuable, long-term data**.
  * **Instead, use more durable data storage**, such as Amazon S3, Amazon EBS, or Amazon EFS.