How to store Images in Database

[Volkof]

Hi all,

I will be needing this as users will be uploading their profile pics.
Basically, how do database store "images". I dont believe there is a "image" datatype in mySQL. How is Facebook able to store pictures?

Some of my friends say to convert images into bits (1s and 0s), but that would be lengthy.
Some websites ask users to upload images to another website, then copy the url and paste, like :
https://www.yousendit.com
http://imageshack.us/

Any form of advice would be appreciated.
Thank you

 

[DrEvil]

I think that once the file has been selected from the window, the images are stored in a sub folder on the server(hence why it takes some time to upload an image as the whole image needs to be 'copied' onto the server (with upload speeds being lower than downloads))

e.g. root/images/filenumber53464.png
when you make a post a variable would be set in the post table(in the database) to show an image as an attachment (with id as the one saved 'filenumber53464.png')

 

[Volkof]

You mean once the img is uploaded to server, the database stores the path name as String?

 

[DrEvil]

I think that is what happens, it seems most logical as you cannot save all the 'data' on an image file and then recreate an image on the spot in a webpage.
Maybe someone could correct me if anything I said wasn't accurate.

 

[Magentix]

Save it as a blob.
Although the preferred way is to save it on disk and then link to that in your db.

 

[Volkof]

@Magentix

blob is Binary Large Object right? How does it work?

 

[Volkof]

 

[Magentix]

Yes that is correct.

Check this for an example:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/6048600/save-image-as-a-blob-type

 

[The Helper]

I never store images in a database I only store paths to them on the server and do a naming convention for them. Basically the images are stored on a drive in a folder however you want.