Can I use varbinary type to store image in SQL Server database?

Question

I am trying to store an image in my SQL Server database, what datatype should I use?

In the below code aspx.cs, I am trying to read all the bytes from the request inputstream and store it in the database, but the byte[] array is not updated properly in table. Am I missing something?

protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
        Request.InputStream.Position = 0;

        byte[] Contents = new byte[Request.InputStream.Length];

        Request.InputStream.Read(Contents, 0, (int)Request.InputStream.Length);

        con.Open();

        try
        {
            string query = "update tblImageUpload set " + IMAGE_ID + " = @imageBytes where Image_ID='" + CID + "'";

            int i = 0;

            using (cmd = new SqlCommand(query, con))
            {
                cmd.Parameters.Add("@imageBytes", SqlDbType.VarBinary, Contents.Length).Value = Contents;

                 i = cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
            }

            Response.Write("Upload Query = " + query);
            Response.Write("Upload Code = " + i);
        } catch (Exception ex) {
            Response.Write("Upload Code=" + ex);
        }

Answer 1

You can use VARBINARY yes. You're probably best off going with VARBINARY(MAX) to store them.

You can use it like this:

cmd.Parameters.Add("@imageBytes", SqlDbType.VarBinaryMax);
cmd.Parameters["@imageBytes"].Value = Contents;