Database Image Question

I have a field on the User of type Image. The user can upload an profile pic here using the Image Uploader. When they do, the image file appears in the file manager.

The image file also appears to populate the field in the User datatype.

My question is if I need to keep the image in the database. In other words, does the field in the User store the actual image, or just a reference to the database image?

Yes, I have tested this, but I am unclear on the answer. Part of me thinks that after deleting the image from the database I am still seeing the profile pic because it is cached someplace. I’ve tried testing clearing my cache, loading from another browser, etc. I appears that the image is stored in the User field and that I can safely delete the image from the database.

I’m asking because I created a workflow to immediately delete the database file after uploading the pic. Before using this workflow I just wanted to verify that I didn’t miss something.

Thanks!

Thie image file is stored in your file storage.

The database field just contains the location (ULR) of the stored file.

If you delete the file from your file storage then it will be gone, and any reference stored in image fields will be broken (they’ll be pointing to non-existent files).