How to store image in SQLite database

Question

In my application I am uploading an image from gallery and I want to store this image in the SQLite database. How do I store a bitmap in the database? I am converting bitmap

Answer 1

Use blob to store your image in your sqlite database. Below is an example on how to to use blob.

Setting Up the database

CREATE TABLE " + DB_TABLE + "("+ 
                   KEY_NAME + " TEXT," + 
                   KEY_IMAGE + " BLOB);";

Insert in the Database:

public void addEntry( String name, byte[] image) throws SQLiteException{
    ContentValues cv = new  ContentValues();
    cv.put(KEY_NAME,    name);
    cv.put(KEY_IMAGE,   image);
    database.insert( DB_TABLE, null, cv );
}

Retrieving data:

 byte[] image = cursor.getBlob(1);

Note:

1. Before inserting into database, you need to convert your Bitmap image into byte array first then apply it using database query.
2. When retrieving from database, you certainly have a byte array of image, what you need to do is to convert byte array back to original image. So, you have to make use of BitmapFactory to decode.

Below is an Utility class which I hope could help you:

public class DbBitmapUtility {

    // convert from bitmap to byte array
    public static byte[] getBytes(Bitmap bitmap) {
        ByteArrayOutputStream stream = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
        bitmap.compress(CompressFormat.PNG, 0, stream);
        return stream.toByteArray();
    }

    // convert from byte array to bitmap
    public static Bitmap getImage(byte[] image) {
        return BitmapFactory.decodeByteArray(image, 0, image.length);
    }
}