File Storage in GNU social is used for avatars, for notes containing
attachments, and for notes containing links (in which case is an Embed preview).
Notes can be created by local users or fetched from remote actors. Filehash is
used to reduce file duplication.
When a user shares a Link that uses OpenGraph tags or has an OEmbed provider,
the [Embed plugin](https://code.undefinedhackers.net/GNUsocial/gnu-social/src/branch/v3/plugins/Embed) generates a preview for it that may contain a thumbnail.
When a user shares a Link to an image, the [StoreRemoteMedia plugin](https://code.undefinedhackers.net/GNUsocial/gnu-social/src/branch/v3/plugins/StoreRemoteMedia) can fetch the
file and make it available as an attachment, and will generate a thumbnail.
When an image, video, or other file type is uploaded or retrieved, an Attachment
* [ImageEncoder](https://code.undefinedhackers.net/GNUsocial/gnu-social/src/branch/v3/plugins/ImageEncoder): Allows to compress, validate, rescale, and sanitize images using VIPS.
* [VideoEncoder](https://code.undefinedhackers.net/GNUsocial/gnu-social/src/branch/v3/plugins/VideoEncoder): Allows to rescale gifs using FFMpeg.
Another helpful plugin is [FileQuota](https://code.undefinedhackers.net/GNUsocial/gnu-social/src/branch/v3/plugins/FileQuota) which ensures a user stays under the file quota.