What is the best method to handle user-uploaded images efficiently in a social media application?

Using signed URLs for Cloud Storage to upload images is the most efficient method for several reasons. This approach allows users to upload their images directly to a Cloud Storage bucket without the need for the application server to temporarily handle the uploaded files. By creating a signed URL, you provide a time-limited URL that allows the user to upload their file directly to Cloud Storage securely.

This method optimizes bandwidth usage and reduces latency since the image data does not need to traverse the application server, which can be a bottleneck. It also enhances security as signed URLs can enforce permissions, ensuring that only authorized users can upload files. Additionally, managing and scaling uploads becomes simpler because the processing load on the application server is minimized.

Moreover, storing images in Cloud Storage instead of a database avoids potential performance issues associated with binary large objects (BLOBs) in relational databases, leading to better overall application performance. This technique is particularly well-suited for social media applications that typically handle large volumes of image uploads and require efficient data storage and retrieval strategies.