Question

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Storing Images in DB – Yea or Nay?

I am making an asp.net mvc site that will have a forum to upload some information. I want to be able to have it upload images. However I am not sure if I should save these images in the database or save them to the file server.

I do not see the images going over 200Kb (this is probably very high). I think the average will be under 50kb.

So what is better to use?

Answer 1

Depends on what you value and what you’re doing with them:

Images in a database:

• Live with the associated data, no chance of becoming detached when data is migrated to another system
• Easier to back up (because they’re all with the database)
• More secure, harder to manipulate either accidentally or deliberately

Images on the filesystem

• Save space on the DB server storage – may be important if you’re in a
  shared environment paying for DB space
• easier to retrieve in code
• easier to reference in html

I don’t think there’s a “best” approach for all situations – but having said that, if it’s for a web site then filesystem would seem to make more sense to me!