Which file extension is associated with the OST file used by Microsoft Outlook for offline storage?

Which file extension is associated with the OST file used by Microsoft Outlook for offline storage?

• A. ost
• B. pst
• C. nsf
• D. mbox

Answer: (A)

Outlook keeps a local copy of your mailbox to let you work while not connected, and that local copy is stored as an OST file, which stands for Offline Storage Table. This file mirrors the server mailbox and synchronizes changes back to the server when you’re back online, enabling seamless offline access and later synchronization. That behavior is what makes OST the right fit for offline storage in Outlook, unlike other formats. A PST file, for example, is a Personal Storage Table used mainly for local archives and data not tied to an active mailbox. NSF and MBOX belong to other email ecosystems (Lotus Notes and various clients like Thunderbird) and aren’t the Outlook offline storage format.

Outlook keeps a local copy of your mailbox to let you work while not connected, and that local copy is stored as an OST file, which stands for Offline Storage Table. This file mirrors the server mailbox and synchronizes changes back to the server when you’re back online, enabling seamless offline access and later synchronization. That behavior is what makes OST the right fit for offline storage in Outlook, unlike other formats. A PST file, for example, is a Personal Storage Table used mainly for local archives and data not tied to an active mailbox. NSF and MBOX belong to other email ecosystems (Lotus Notes and various clients like Thunderbird) and aren’t the Outlook offline storage format.