Which data retention method is stored with a minimal amount of metadata storage with the content?

The method that stores data with a minimal amount of metadata along with the content is block-based storage. In this approach, data is divided into blocks, which are then stored in a storage system. Each block is identified by an address, and aside from the essential metadata needed for block identification and management, there is typically little additional metadata stored with the data itself.

While file systems and object-based storage can involve more extensive metadata practices, such as maintaining attributes, tags, and other information about the data, block storage focuses on the efficiency of storing just the content and the necessary information for retrieval. Block-based storage is often used in environments where performance and speed are critical, as in databases and virtual machines, where the overhead of extra metadata can slow down access times.

This characteristic of block-based storage helps optimize performance and reduce storage overhead, particularly in large-scale environments, making it particularly well-suited for high-volume data management applications.