Handling Dangling Images

Dangling images are a common problem when implementing image uploads - users upload images to forms but abandon them before submission, leaving orphaned files consuming storage indefinitely.

The problem scenario:

1. User starts form submission
2. On the form page, user uploads image to S3/object storage e.g. via presigned URL
3. User abandons form before submitting it
4. ISSUE: Image remains in storage indefinitely

Solving this issue manually requires either creating lifecycle rules and/or separate buckets, managing a CDN for those locations, and copying objects from location to another manually.

With Icefiery temporary uploads:

1. User starts form submission
2. On the form page, user uploads image via /upload-temporary-image endpoint
3. User abandons form before submitting it
4. Temporary image is deleted after 24 hours

No manual cleanup required.