Why Does My MySQL BLOB Image Display Incorrectly When Other Content is Echoed?

Challenges in Displaying MySQL BLOB Images and Additional Content

In an effort to display an image stored as a BLOB in a MySQL database, you've encountered an unexpected issue. While the image displays correctly when it's the sole output, any attempt to echo other elements (even simple text) before or after the image output results in errors or unexpected behavior.

Reason for the Issue

The issue stems from the way web browsers handle the image data. When you echo text before the image, the browser interprets it as part of the image file, causing display problems. Similarly, any content echoed after the image data will prevent the browser from recognizing it correctly.

Solution: Embedding the Image in an HTML Structure

To overcome this issue, you can embed the image data within an HTML structure, such as an tag. This approach allows you to display the image while also outputting additional text or elements.

Example Code

connectToDatabase();

$sql = "SELECT * FROM theBlogs WHERE ID = 1;";

$result = mysql_query($sql) or die(mysql_error());  
$row = mysql_fetch_array($result);

// Convert the image data to base64
$base64Image = base64_encode($row['imageContent']);

// Embed the image in an <img> tag
$html = '<img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,' . $base64Image . '" />';

echo $html;
echo 'Hello world.';

$db->close();

Additional Considerations

While this solution resolves the immediate issue, it may not be the most efficient approach for large images due to its performance limitations. Consider exploring alternatives like remote file storage or data URIs for optimal results.

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