I would think that only in extreme cases is storing the binary data in a DB a good idea.

Most non-text HTML elements are retrieved by additional requests to the web browser as opposed to being stored in the HTML stream that is requested initially; if they are stored as plain files, this is a trivial operation for the server. On the other hand, if you have to have the request go through a a second CGI that accesses the database and passed back the data, then you're slowing down the process needlessly.

Not that you can't store file information in the DB that relates to these images and other binary data, but it's better to avoid storing the binaries in the DB proper.

----------------------------------------------------- Dr. Michael K. Neylon - mneylon-pm@masemware.com || "You've left the lens cap of your mind on again, Pinky" - The Brain