What are the advantages and disadvantages of storing PDF files in a folder structure with URLs in a database compared to saving them as text in a .txt file?

When deciding between storing PDF files in a folder structure with URLs in a database or saving them as text in a .txt file, it's important to consider factors such as ease of access, scalability, and security. Storing PDF files in a folder structure with URLs in a database allows for better organization and retrieval of files, but it may require additional storage space and maintenance. On the other hand, saving PDF files as text in a .txt file simplifies storage and retrieval but may not be as efficient for larger files or frequent access.

// Storing PDF files in a folder structure with URLs in a database
// Create a table in the database to store file information
CREATE TABLE pdf_files (
    id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
    file_name VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
    file_url VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL
);

// Insert a PDF file into the database
INSERT INTO pdf_files (file_name, file_url) VALUES ('example.pdf', '/path/to/example.pdf');

// Retrieve a PDF file from the database
SELECT file_url FROM pdf_files WHERE file_name = 'example.pdf';