cakephp display image from database - php

Question

Since it's not a large number of images that my db will take, i'm uploading them directly to database. However, i'm having problems displaying them, i don't want to download them, i want to see them on the page. I'm trying to display with the following code but it's not working:
function display() of MyFiles Controller:
function display($id)
{
$file = $this->MyFile->findById($id);
$this->set('image',$file['MyFile']['data']);
}
MyFile Model:
<?php
class MyFile extends AppModel {
var $name = 'MyFile';
}
?>
function add() of MyFilesController
function add() {
if (!empty($this->data) &&
is_uploaded_file($this->data['MyFile']['File']['tmp_name'])) {
$fileData = fread(fopen($this->data['MyFile']['File']['tmp_name'], "r"),
$this->data['MyFile']['File']['size']);
$this->request->data['MyFile']['name'] = $this->data['MyFile']['File']['name'];
$this->request->data['MyFile']['type'] = $this->data['MyFile']['File']['type'];
$this->request->data['MyFile']['size'] = $this->data['MyFile']['File']['size'];
$this->request->data['MyFile']['data'] = $fileData;
$this->MyFile->save($this->request->data);
$this->redirect(array('controller'=>'posts','action'=>'index'));
}
}
EDIT:
display.ctp of MyFiles View
<?php
echo '<img src="/MyFilesController/display/4" />';
?>

Answer 1

Saving images in a database is generally not a good idea.
You are far better off (and I assume you have done this for 'security') saving the files in a folder that is not web accessible and using Media Views to render them. This way you can still keep your security checks as you are using a controller to render the image.
Cakes media views are designed for streaming files to the browser and can easily be configured for images.
2.3 has a new feature for this
If you are not doing this for security reasons just save your self the problems and put them in webroot.