Database or File System: Where Should My Document Management System Store Files?

Storing Files in Database vs. File System: Best Practices for a Document Management System

In designing a Document Management System, deciding between storing files in a database or on the file system is crucial. Both approaches offer unique advantages and challenges.

Database Storage

Storing files in a database ensures data integrity and easy retrieval. However, it can be more complex to implement and secure, especially with large files. MySQL doesn't currently provide a suitable column type for file data.

File System Storage

Storing files directly on the file system offers flexibility and fast retrieval, but it requires careful attention to security measures. To address this:

• Confidentiality: Place documents outside the web server's accessible path.
• Sharding: Create multiple directories and distribute files evenly among them to prevent inode exhaustion.
• Security: Implement access controls and encryption mechanisms to protect against unauthorized access and data breaches.

Consider Metadata

For efficient document search and filtering, it's recommended to store metadata (e.g., file name, type, date) in a database to facilitate search performance.

Conclusion

Based on your requirement for fast file retrieval, storing files on the file system with appropriate security measures is the recommended approach. Metadata storage in a database can enhance the search capabilities of your Document Management System.

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