PHP to store images in MySQL or not?

Question

I have built a small web application in PHP where users must first log in. Once they have logged in, I intend on showing a small thumbnail as part of their \"profile\".

Answer 1

These are the pros of both solutions

In BLOBS :

1) pros : the easiness to mange clusters since you do not have to handle tricky points like file syncs between servers

2) DB backups will be exhaustive also

In files

1) Native caching handly (and that's the missing point of previous comments, with refresh and headers that you won't have to redesign in DB (DB are not handling last modification time by default)

2) Easiness of resizing later on

3) Easiness of moderation (just go through your folders to check if everything is correct)

For all these reasons and since the two pros of databases are easier to replicate on file system I strongly recommend files !