Question
Should I upload images (multipart/formdata) to spaces via client or server side?
- Posted on October 7, 2023
- DigitalOcean Spaces
Asked by bee575eae7d04977a721d68f4f4877
Is it considered safer by the digital ocean team to write the upload image code from server side? or is it indifferent and it is fine to write it from the client side? I have written the code already and it is working. Right now the code is in the server but just wondering if I can write it directly from the client to jump the maybe unecessary step of sending the image to my server
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Hi there,
Totally with Zachary on this. I agree that offloading uploads directly from the client can significantly reduce backend load and save costs on memory and bandwidth. It also simplifies the process from a developer’s standpoint.
However, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons. While client-side uploads can be efficient and suitable for many use cases, server-side uploads offer several benefits.
For example, direct client-side uploads may expose additional security vulnerabilities, even with pre-signed URLs or temporary tokens. Using a server offers an extra layer of protection, enabling additional authentication, content validation, and possibly malware scans to ensure that uploads meet specific requirements.
As you mentioned, client-side uploads are straightforward. But routing uploads through the server provides better control over the entire process. For example, you can perform image transformations, add watermarks, save specific metadata, or ensure consistent error handling and logging. The server-side process offers a level of customization and control that direct client-side uploads might not easily accommodate.
Basically, the best approach will depend on the specific needs of your application.
I can’t speak for the Digital Ocean team specifically, but I’ve built several applications utilizing uploads.
I wouldn’t consider it inherently unsafe to do it from the client. That’s ideal in a lot of scenarios as to avoid load on your backend, reducing memory and bandwidth costs as well. The cognitive load of not having to worry about the binaries in transit (through your backend) is also a great benefit for you the developer.