Why Laravel Stores User Uploads in /storage/app/public Instead of /public/
If you’re new to Laravel, you might wonder why the framework encourages you to store user-uploaded files in /storage/app/public rather than directly in the /public/ directory. At first glance, it might seem simpler to just drop everything into /public/, but Laravel’s approach is both thoughtful and practical. Let’s explore why.
Separation of Concerns: Keeping Things Tidy
The /public/ directory in a Laravel project is designed for static assets—things like CSS files, JavaScript, and images that are part of your application’s source code. These are files you (the developer) put there and want to be publicly available.
User uploads, on the other hand, are dynamic. They’re added by people using your app, not by you. Mixing user uploads with your static assets can quickly get messy, making it harder to manage your project and increasing the risk of accidentally deleting or overwriting important files.
Security: Protecting Your Files
Anything in /public/ is immediately accessible to anyone on the internet. That’s fine for your app’s logo or style sheets, but not always for user uploads. By default, Laravel keeps user files in /storage/app/public, which is not directly accessible from the web.
Laravel then lets you decide which files should be public by creating a symbolic link (using php artisan storage:link) from /public/storage to /storage/app/public. This way, only files you want to expose are available at URLs like /storage/filename.jpg, and you can keep private files out of reach.
Flexibility and Scalability: Future-Proofing Your App
Laravel’s filesystem abstraction means you can easily switch where files are stored—on your server, in the cloud, or elsewhere—without rewriting your app logic. By using /storage/app/public and the public disk, you keep your code flexible and ready for future changes.
Version Control: Keeping Your Repo Clean
Here’s a key point that often trips up beginners: version control (like Git) is for tracking your code, not user data. The /public/ directory is usually included in version control, so every change is tracked and shared with your team.
But you don’t want user uploads in your repository! They can be huge, sensitive, and change constantly. That’s why /storage/app/public is typically listed in .gitignore, meaning it’s excluded from version control. This keeps your repository clean, fast, and secure.
What Does “Typically Included/Excluded” Mean?
- Included: Files/directories are tracked and versioned (like your code and static assets).
- Excluded: Files/directories are ignored by version control (like user uploads, cache files, or logs).
How It Works: The Symbolic Link
Laravel’s php artisan storage:link command creates a shortcut from /public/storage to /storage/app/public. This makes user uploads accessible via the web, but keeps the actual files outside the web root. It’s a simple but powerful way to balance accessibility and security.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | /public/ | /storage/app/public/ (with symlink) |
|---|---|---|
| Direct web access | Yes | Via /storage symlink |
| Version control | Typically included | Typically excluded |
| Static assets | Yes | No |
| User uploads | Not recommended | Recommended |
| Storage abstraction | No | Yes |
| Security | Lower (all files public) | Higher (controlled exposure) |
In Summary
Laravel’s file storage approach is designed to keep your app organized, secure, and easy to maintain. By separating static assets from user uploads, controlling what’s exposed to the public, and keeping your repository clean, you set yourself up for success—both now and as your app grows.
So next time you’re working with file uploads in Laravel, remember: /storage/app/public is your friend, and /public/ is best reserved for your app’s own assets. Happy coding!