How and where to store images in a java application?

Question

MySQL

There is a java application. I would like the user to be able to upload pictures directly in it, both for his avatar, and simply as personal files. Of course, they must be stored somewhere on the Internet, not just on the user's local computer, for other users to view. The question arises, how and where to store them? I read about the BLOB data type, but they say that it is wrong to store images in the database. Also came across iTextPDF, which seems to allow you to work with PDF files in java, or something like that (I haven’t had time to figure it out yet). One way or another, tell me, please, in which direction to dig? And in general, (additional question) is it possible to do something like a gallery in Java (so that the user can directly upload his files to the semblance of such a gallery and other users can see it all)?
Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

Yes, of course, making a gallery is real. (As in any programming language)
I'm just writing my small (but very long :)) project - online photo storage (GWT + Spring + JPA + JavaFX).
ITEXT is a very good PDF library. But you need to read the terms of the license. For example, if you are making a commercial application without disclosing the source code, then the latest version of ITEXT under the MPL license ( https://www.mozilla.org/MPL/1.1/ ) dates back to 2009.
mvnrepository.com/artifact/com.lowagie/itext/2.1.7
But this is not critical.
It's just not clear why you need a PDF if you want to store pictures.
About what to store in BLOB incorrectly - I would argue.
It is not correct to store large size originals. But if, for example, an avatar weighs 10-20 kb. So why not.
As I understand it, you want to make a desktop client application + remote service (server application)?