It depends on the DB platform, but generally a select query returns a limited text size. To return the whole BLOB you have to get into pointers and reading in chunks. So from the perspective of select *, I don't think it's a problem.
But I think your intuition is right on; the database is a bad place for this kinda stuff. The database is not meant to be a file repository. The database is intended for fast indexing of information. And while you can argue that BLOBS in one table shouldn't affect the performance of indexing of other tables, you should be considering the overall cost of management. Simple things like moves, replication and backups become difficult. Furthermore, the BLOBS themselves are not indexed, only referenced. Just my 2 cents - Dave -----Original Message----- From: Rich Gray [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2002 6:07 AM To: Luis Ferro; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [PHP-WIN] Pool: Pictures as files or text/blobs Luis FWIW... I would always choose storing the URL to the image in the database over storing the binary image in a text/blob field.... I can't back up my choice with hard evidence - just a gut feeling that an injudicious 'select * from blobtable' would probably cripple the server performance wise Has anyone done any tests? I'd be interested to see the results and be proven wrong if necessary! Cheers Rich -----Original Message----- From: Luis Ferro [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: 19 September 2002 11:55 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [PHP-WIN] Pool: Pictures as files or text/blobs From a performance wise point of view... what is preferable: a) placing pictures in blob/text fields in binary... b) placing the picture name/directory in a varchar field and the picture as a file in the refered directory... What would you choose and why? Thanx and cheers... Luis Ferro TelaDigital.Net --- [This E-mail scanned for viruses by Declude Virus] -- PHP Windows Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php -- PHP Windows Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php -- PHP Windows Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
