Host images on server or pull them in?

[c0nvct]

So I'm developing a site and I've got the choice of linking to images or host them myself. Some I will have to host because I'd like to edit them. What are the community's thoughts on this, also using a CDN like cloud flare to cache for better content delivery? Full answers please, make them useful for other members ?

 

[Genesis]

My first thought would be that by hosting them you'd use more resources from a storage and downloading point of view. Think there could be security issues too. So linking would be better from that point of view.

 

[Hazem]

[No message]

 

[Peter]

I don't think it's ever a good idea to hotlink images found on random websites. First of all it's not nice to the owner of the website because it wastes their bandwidth. Secondly it might not be reliable because the images could be removed or they could be changed to something that you don't want to show.

Using a free image hosting service such as imgur might be tempting but you need to keep in mind that it might not always be around, or they might change their terms and start asking for money, etc. Just look at what happened to photobucket recently.

If you are using your own server to host the images I don't see what advantages there would be of having them separate from the rest of the website. Personally I would prefer keeping everything together on the same server for simplicity.

 

[c0nvct]

https://trimage.org/https://imageoptim.com/api

 

[yusha]

It's good to host images on your on server but sometimes it's needs a bit more space and takes a little more bandwidth. As I have worked for a client I remember he was a photographer and wanted me to develop a site for him where he will be able to add images for his online portfolio. And I suggested him to use flickr and added to add multiple flikr gallery option in his site which worked in my case.

 

[Yozora]

I'd think it would be better to link images from your own server since they should load quicker and you have more control over things. A third-party site could go away or get bought out by a shady company whose terms you may not agree with. Or nothing could happen. Who knows in the end, but why take the risk if you don't absolutely have to? Just my thoughts.

 

[c0nvct]

Agreed, I've taken the advice of the masses and host my own images.

Google's AMP is also a big consideration, so it's even more important than ever.

now, anyone know a really good WordPress media library plugin? I personally think WordPress is the mutts nuts, excellent project which has opened my eyes to do much, but....

The media library really sucks. I am actually already using a plugin that helps a lot.

 

[zoheb998]

c0nvct

 

[c0nvct]

c0nvct

 

[Genesis]

Woocommerce has a very good image gallery, but woocommerce - the real theme - is a bit pricey. Of you can use the media settings in WP settings.

You could use the gallery settings of the theme you are using in conjunction with the "Regenerate Thumbnail" plugin. The latter plugin works in the tools sub-menu. What it does is if you change the thumbnail sizing in "settings" you can use this plugin to apply the settings to all of your thumbnails.

 

[zoheb998]

[No message]

 

[iwsm]

if you use CDN , You have more security options and more speed to load of your website and when your host is offline its a good option to still keep your website online in static view but its better than full offline.