Object Storage

You might say

Where do user-uploaded profile pictures actually go?

A cloud storage service specialized in whole objects like images, videos, and files, accessed by linkWhen saving user avatars or attachments, the file payload goes to object storage while the database retains only its URL, owner ID, and status metadata. Databases excel at querying structured records, and stuffing binary files into rows degrades performance; splitting them is standard engineering practice.

Know first

Database

Object Storage

One cover image, two parts, stored separately

Where the two parts of one cover image are storedUpload cover.png

cover filestored whole in object storage

object storagereturns an address

database fielddoes not hold the file

EvidenceFiles are stored and served by link, not in database fields

After upload you get an address; the file itself stays in object storage.

How object storage and the database divide the work

Whole files go to object storage: Images, videos, and attachments are stored as whole objects, returning an accessible address.

Structured text goes to the database: Queryable fields like title, author, and status live in the database, which also stores the file address to link the two.

Each plays to its strength: Databases query fast, object storage stores large files reliably; forcing files into the database slows both.

Quick checkChoose the best answer

Building an article system with cover images. Where do the cover image and the article title each go?

Put the image and the title in the same database fieldStore everything in browser local storagePut the image file in object storage and the title text in the database, with the database storing the image address

You can say this to an AI Agent

Move article covers to an object-storage design: uploaded files go to object storage, and the database only stores the file address, ownership, and status; pages read the image by address. Afterward, upload a cover and confirm it still shows after refresh.

Learn next

1Database→2Browser Storage→3File→

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