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SQL SERVER – Do Not Store Images in Database – Store Location of Images (URL)

Pinal Dave
SQL Interview Questions and Answers
56 Comments

My advice is simple: do not store images in database tables, store their location. Just a day ago I received phone call from my friend in Bangalore. He asked me

SQL SERVER - Do Not Store Images in Database - Store Location of Images (URL)

What do I think of storing images in database and what kind of datatype he should use?

I have very strong opinion about this issue.

I suggest to store the location of the images in the database using VARCHAR datatype instead of any BLOB or other binary datatype.

Storing the database location reduces the size of database greatly as well updating or replacing the image are much simpler as it is just an file operation instead of massive update/insert/delete in database.

Published by Pinal Dave on SQLAuthority. More of my work at pinaldave.com.

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56 Comments. Leave new

  • malak
    April 25, 2014 5:10 pm

    please ,how i can upload pdf file from client to wamp server then store the path of file ??

    Reply
  • malak
    April 25, 2014 5:15 pm

    please ,how i can upload pdf file from client to wamp server then store the path of file ?? i use c# language by visual studio 2010

    Reply
  • vishal chavan
    January 31, 2015 1:11 pm

    If i store image in database using varchar then what is the use of image datatype……

    thanks in advance

    Reply
    • Pinal Dave
      February 2, 2015 9:15 am

      Try to refrain away from Image datatype, it is obsolete now. If you want to store image or blobs inside SQL Server – try to use VARBINARY(MAX) datatype.

      Reply
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