Yes, you can store practically any data in a blob (within the limits of
your storage space). As Egor stated, many places put thumbnail images
(.bmp, .jpg, or .gif) files into their database for indexed retrieval and
storage. These records probably also have a link to the larger (original
sized) image that exists in disk storage but the smaller thumbnail image
is stored in the database.
Other ideas for BLOB columns (some of which were already mentioned in this
thread):
The digital sound recordings of birds (bird calls)
Medical information: EEG strip data, Sonograms, CT/MRI/PET images
Biometric information (retinal scans, fingerprints, voice
profiles)
Public and/or Private keys (for RSA-type encryptions)
Encrypted data
Digital Signatures
Checksums
Bit-field data (like that used by full-text indexes)
Vector-based information (road maps, network diagrams, etc.)
Basically anything you could store in a file on a disk, you could also
store in a BLOB. That's ALSO why Egor mentioned the FLAME WAR about the
efficiency of the storage and retrieval of the actual digital data with
your database vs. the storage of only a link to that data in your database
and serving it with another system (FTP, file share, web server, etc.)
There is no universal answer as each situation is unique. Only testing and
benchmarking will determine which is best for your situation.
FWIW,
Shawn Green
Database Administrator
Unimin Corporation - Spruce Pine
Scott Hamm <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote on 08/10/2004 07:33:44 AM:
> Are you saying that BLOB can store external files? I'm not sure if I
> understood "storing any binary data" in a way you meant. I'm working on
a
> project where program dumps a file along with report that comes with it.
I
> was thinking maybe I could centerize multi programs' Data to Mysql...
>
> I hope I'm wrong knowing what SQL is like...
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Egor Egorov [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 6:29 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: What would you store in a BLOB field?
>
>
> "Levi Campbell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> > I know the blob field is binary but what would you store there? and if
=
> > you could give me an example of real-life uses please.
>
> You can store beer, juice or milk, but you need to escape the drink
properly
> to
> get it back fresh and delicious. ;)
>
> Speaking seriously, BLOB is capable of storing any binary data. There is
a
> long-lasting
> religion war about whether it's good to store, say, images in BLOB or
not. I
> don't want
> to dive in that flame, but I must admit that both ways (storing binary
data
> in BLOB or
> just a filename where the data is) has their pros and cons.
>
> Probably, the most popular real-life usage is storing generated website
> images
> (thumbnails) in BLOB fields.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> For technical support contracts, goto
https://order.mysql.com/?ref=ensita
> This email is sponsored by Ensita.net http://www.ensita.net/
> __ ___ ___ ____ __
> / |/ /_ __/ __/ __ \/ / Egor Egorov
> / /|_/ / // /\ \/ /_/ / /__ [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> /_/ /_/\_, /___/\___\_\___/ MySQL AB / Ensita.net
> <___/ www.mysql.com
>
>
>
>
> --
> MySQL General Mailing List
> For list archives: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql
> To unsubscribe:
> http://lists.mysql.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> --
> MySQL General Mailing List
> For list archives: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql
> To unsubscribe: http://lists.mysql.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
