Image stored in a dataURI vs. regular embeded external image.

An experiment in creating images/sprites that can be stored in a database, either server-side or client-side. using base64 encoding and the dataURI scheme.

The first image is dynamically read using php, and the contents encoded in base64; the second image is static and has the encoded dataURI in the source; the third image is a standard png stored externally and referenced in an img tag.