# Why does the system download local copies of images?

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/why-does-the-system-download-local-copies-of-images/260204>\
**Category:** Product Support\
**Created:** [April 1, 2023, 10:31am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/why-does-the-system-download-local-copies-of-images/260204 "2023-04-01T10:31:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 3

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**Author:** ![pfaffman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/pfaffman/32/120154_2.png) [@pfaffman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pfaffman)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 2:35pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/why-does-the-system-download-local-copies-of-images/260204/3 "2023-04-01T14:35:27Z")

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> [@VSCPlays](#):
>
> - Why they automatically download local copies of images?

Because downloading images from other web sites is unreliable (they might get deleted) and rude (you’re using their bandwidth).

> [@VSCPlays](#):
>
> - Why it always start with `upload://` and ends with `.png`?

Unless images are really small (there is a site setting defining small) they get processed into a `.png` to save space. They start with `upload://` because that’s the way to refer to those uploads in markdown.

> [@VSCPlays](#):
>
> 1. What is it meant to be used in Discourse?

I don’t understand this question.

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