How Should I Handle Uploaded Images in My Document Editor?

If you want your users to enjoy your platform, definitely go for a media library. Otherwise, you might frustrate them if they can’t find that one image they uploaded weeks ago!

If you're running a standalone editor, I wouldn't want to deal with leftover images cluttering a media library. It's super frustrating to find random images lying around, especially if your content doesn't often reuse images. It feels more appropriate for a full CMS that supports galleries. Personally, I think I'll opt for a more hidden approach with a feature to clean up orphaned images after a certain time.

Just a friendly tip: ensure your upload permissions are secure. One of my old jobs had major issues with uploads, and it resulted in credit card details being leaked. So double-check those settings!

Keeping it simple is key. I vote for the hidden option at first. If you decide to add a media library later, you can always implement that. It's just less complicated this way.

For a document editor, I'd suggest allowing users to select from previously uploaded images, kind of like how WordPress does it. There are valid reasons to reuse images in various documents, but if your app is more of a news feed (like Facebook or Twitter), then keeping images hidden might work better.

I definitely support having a browsable media library. It makes things easier for users and aligns with what most editors are doing these days. Consider how tools like Notion and CMS handle images—they really enhance productivity.