What do you call a read-only version of a blob at a specific point in time?

A read-only version of a blob at a specific point in time is referred to as a snapshot. Snapshots in Azure Blob Storage allow users to create a point-in-time copy of a blob, preserving its state at that moment. This functionality is particularly useful for backup and recovery purposes, enabling easy restoration to a previous version of the blob without the need for complex data management processes.

When a snapshot is created, it retains the metadata as well as the data, allowing for consistency in data access. Users can also manage multiple snapshots, providing flexibility in data versioning. This is a key feature when dealing with important data that requires a reliable history or when changes need to be tracked over time.