Storage
Non-database storage: unstructured blobs, shared file systems, and in-memory cache. To choose between these and the databases, start from the decision chart on the section overview.
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Cloud Storage - object storage for unstructured blobs (images, media, backups, logs, static sites). Objects live in globally-unique buckets; pick a storage class (Standard/Nearline/Coldline/Archive) by access frequency.
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Filestore - fully managed file storage (NFS / NAS). A shared POSIX file system you mount on VMs or GKE; for latency-sensitive and lift-and-shift workloads that need a real file system.
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Memorystore - fully managed in-memory cache for Redis or Memcached. Sub-millisecond reads, sits in front of a database or app to reduce load.
Cloud Storage has no file system - you reach objects by bucket path via API/CLI, not a mount. Filestore IS a mountable file system (NFS). Memorystore is volatile cache, not durable storage - don't treat it as a system of record.