How to store files into the DB with PHP. (bytea ?)

["François Delpierre" <pgsql(at)pivert(dot)org>]

Hi,

I know this question came quite often, but I never found a clear answer in the 
mailing list.

My problem : 
- I need to store files (pdf, png, jpg) from a web page in PHP.
- I have a strong need of security and high availability. I must minimize the 
risk of having these documents stolen if the web server is compromised.

My questions :
- Which datatype ? (once again, sorry.).  (Text, bytea, lo)  ?
- Most of samples redirect to lo (large objects), and PHP has a set of 
dedicated functions for them. But in the documentation we can read :

All large objects are placed in a single system table called pg_largeobject. 
PostgreSQL also supports a storage system called "TOAST" that automatically 
stores values larger than a single database page into a secondary storage area 
per table. This makes the large object facility partially obsolete.

Why obsolete ? Is it now because of TOAST that we can store up to 1GB into 
bytea ? If bytea is the easiest solution, why do so many people redirect to LO 
?
LO stores the datas within only one table, pg_largeobject, I really prefer to 
store the big datas within my custom table stored on a dedicated tablespace.

Due to the high security level of my web application, all the datas must be 
accessed through stored procedures. Does it change something to the choice ?

Where can I find samples of files stored through PHP & stored procedures ?

Regards,

-- 
François Delpierre