BLOB

Binary Large Object

A data type used in databases to store large binary data, such as images, videos, audio files, documents, and other types of binary data. Here’s a more detailed description:

1. Binary Data: BLOBs are designed to store binary data, which means any data without plain text characters. This can include images in various formats (JPEG, PNG, GIF) to audio files (MP3, WAV), and even executable program files.
2. Large Size: The Large in BLOB means these objects can store large amounts of data. Unlike standard text fields in a database, which are limited in size, BLOBs can accommodate huge files, making them suitable for multimedia content or large documents.
3. Single Entity: BLOBs store binary data as a single entity. This means that when you retrieve a BLOB from a database, you get the entire binary file intact, whether it’s an image, a video, or any other type of binary content.
4. Common Use Cases: BLOBs are commonly used in various applications, such as content management systems (CMS), which store images and documents associated with articles or web pages. They are also used in multimedia databases that store audio and video files.

BLOBs are a database data type used to store binary data of various types and sizes as a single, cohesive unit within a database, making them a valuable tool for managing multimedia and other non-textual data in database systems.

• Abbreviation: BLOB