Is it recommended to store image data in a database or in a directory with the file path stored in the database in PHP applications?

Storing image data in a database can increase the size of the database and impact performance. It is generally recommended to store images in a directory on the server and store the file path in the database. This approach allows for better performance, easier management of images, and reduces the size of the database. 

// Example of storing image data in a directory and saving the file path in the database

// Upload image to directory
$targetDir = "uploads/";
$targetFile = $targetDir . basename($_FILES["image"]["name"]);
move_uploaded_file($_FILES["image"]["tmp_name"], $targetFile);

// Save file path in database
$imagePath = $targetFile;
$sql = "INSERT INTO images (image_path) VALUES ('$imagePath')";
// Execute SQL query to save image path in the database

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