Top Related Projects
Laravel is a web application framework with expressive, elegant syntax. We’ve already laid the foundation for your next big idea — freeing you to create without sweating the small things.
Ruby on Rails
The Python micro framework for building web applications.
Fast, unopinionated, minimalist web framework for node.
Spring Framework
The Symfony PHP framework
Quick Overview
Django is a high-level Python web framework that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design. It follows the model-template-view architectural pattern and emphasizes reusability and "pluggability" of components. Django is known for its "batteries included" philosophy, providing a comprehensive set of tools for building web applications out of the box.
Pros
- Robust ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) system for database interactions
- Built-in admin interface for easy management of application data
- Strong security features, including protection against common vulnerabilities
- Extensive documentation and a large, supportive community
Cons
- Steep learning curve for beginners due to its comprehensive nature
- Can be considered "opinionated," which may limit flexibility in some cases
- Monolithic structure might be overkill for small projects
- Performance can be a concern for high-traffic applications without proper optimization
Code Examples
- Creating a simple model:
from django.db import models
class Book(models.Model):
title = models.CharField(max_length=200)
author = models.CharField(max_length=100)
publication_date = models.DateField()
def __str__(self):
return self.title
- Defining a view:
from django.shortcuts import render
from .models import Book
def book_list(request):
books = Book.objects.all()
return render(request, 'books/book_list.html', {'books': books})
- URL routing:
from django.urls import path
from . import views
urlpatterns = [
path('books/', views.book_list, name='book_list'),
path('books/<int:pk>/', views.book_detail, name='book_detail'),
]
- Template example:
{% extends "base.html" %}
{% block content %}
<h1>Book List</h1>
<ul>
{% for book in books %}
<li>{{ book.title }} by {{ book.author }}</li>
{% endfor %}
</ul>
{% endblock %}
Getting Started
- Install Django:
pip install django
- Create a new project:
django-admin startproject myproject
cd myproject
- Create a new app:
python manage.py startapp myapp
- Add your app to
INSTALLED_APPS
insettings.py
:
INSTALLED_APPS = [
# ...
'myapp',
]
- Run migrations and start the development server:
python manage.py migrate
python manage.py runserver
Your Django project is now running at http://127.0.0.1:8000/
.
Competitor Comparisons
Laravel is a web application framework with expressive, elegant syntax. We’ve already laid the foundation for your next big idea — freeing you to create without sweating the small things.
Pros of Laravel
- More flexible and less opinionated, allowing developers greater freedom in structuring their applications
- Built-in support for frontend development with Vue.js and Laravel Mix
- Eloquent ORM is more intuitive and easier to use for database operations
Cons of Laravel
- Slower performance compared to Django, especially for larger applications
- Less emphasis on security out-of-the-box, requiring more manual configuration
- Smaller community and ecosystem compared to Django
Code Comparison
Django (models.py):
from django.db import models
class User(models.Model):
name = models.CharField(max_length=100)
email = models.EmailField(unique=True)
Laravel (User.php):
namespace App\Models;
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
class User extends Model
{
protected $fillable = ['name', 'email'];
}
Both frameworks use similar approaches for defining models, but Laravel's Eloquent ORM tends to be more concise and intuitive. Django's ORM is more explicit in defining field types, which can be beneficial for larger projects with complex data structures.
Laravel's routing system is often praised for its simplicity, while Django's URL patterns can be more verbose but offer greater control. Both frameworks have their strengths, and the choice between them often comes down to personal preference and project requirements.
Ruby on Rails
Pros of Rails
- Convention over configuration approach leads to faster development
- Built-in asset pipeline for managing JavaScript and CSS
- Seamless database integration with Active Record ORM
Cons of Rails
- Less flexibility compared to Django's modular structure
- Steeper learning curve for beginners
- Performance can be slower for large-scale applications
Code Comparison
Django (views.py):
from django.shortcuts import render
from .models import Article
def article_list(request):
articles = Article.objects.all()
return render(request, 'articles/index.html', {'articles': articles})
Rails (articles_controller.rb):
class ArticlesController < ApplicationController
def index
@articles = Article.all
end
end
Rails follows a more convention-based approach, automatically rendering the corresponding view without explicit instructions. Django requires more explicit view definitions but offers greater flexibility in handling requests.
Both frameworks provide powerful ORM systems, with Django's query syntax being more SQL-like, while Rails' Active Record offers a more Ruby-like interface.
Overall, Rails excels in rapid development for standard web applications, while Django provides more flexibility and control for complex, customized projects.
The Python micro framework for building web applications.
Pros of Flask
- Lightweight and minimalist, allowing for more flexibility and customization
- Easier to learn and get started with for beginners
- Better suited for small to medium-sized projects or microservices
Cons of Flask
- Requires more manual configuration and setup for larger projects
- Fewer built-in features and tools compared to Django
- Less opinionated, which can lead to inconsistencies in project structure
Code Comparison
Flask:
from flask import Flask
app = Flask(__name__)
@app.route('/')
def hello_world():
return 'Hello, World!'
Django:
from django.http import HttpResponse
from django.urls import path
def hello_world(request):
return HttpResponse('Hello, World!')
urlpatterns = [
path('', hello_world),
]
Both Flask and Django are popular Python web frameworks, but they have different philosophies and use cases. Flask is more lightweight and flexible, making it ideal for smaller projects or when you need more control over your application's structure. Django, on the other hand, provides a more comprehensive set of tools and follows the "batteries included" approach, making it better suited for larger, more complex applications.
Fast, unopinionated, minimalist web framework for node.
Pros of Express
- Lightweight and minimalist, allowing for more flexibility in architecture
- Faster initial setup and development for simple applications
- Better performance for handling a large number of concurrent requests
Cons of Express
- Less built-in functionality, requiring more third-party packages
- Lack of standardized project structure, potentially leading to inconsistencies
- No built-in ORM, necessitating additional setup for database operations
Code Comparison
Django (URL routing):
urlpatterns = [
path('admin/', admin.site.urls),
path('blog/', include('blog.urls')),
path('', views.home, name='home'),
]
Express (URL routing):
app.use('/admin', adminRouter);
app.use('/blog', blogRouter);
app.get('/', (req, res) => {
res.render('home');
});
Both frameworks offer routing capabilities, but Express provides a more direct approach with middleware support, while Django uses a centralized URL configuration.
Spring Framework
Pros of Spring Framework
- More flexible and modular architecture, allowing developers to use only the components they need
- Better support for enterprise-level applications and microservices architecture
- Extensive ecosystem with numerous additional projects and integrations
Cons of Spring Framework
- Steeper learning curve due to its complexity and vast ecosystem
- More verbose configuration and setup compared to Django's "batteries included" approach
- Can be overkill for smaller projects or simple web applications
Code Comparison
Django (Python):
from django.db import models
class Book(models.Model):
title = models.CharField(max_length=100)
author = models.CharField(max_length=50)
publication_date = models.DateField()
Spring Framework (Java):
@Entity
public class Book {
@Id
@GeneratedValue(strategy = GenerationType.AUTO)
private Long id;
private String title;
private String author;
private LocalDate publicationDate;
}
Both frameworks provide ORM capabilities, but Spring Framework uses annotations for entity mapping, while Django uses a more declarative approach with model fields.
The Symfony PHP framework
Pros of Symfony
- More flexible and modular architecture, allowing developers to use only the components they need
- Better performance in high-traffic scenarios due to its lightweight core
- Stronger adherence to SOLID principles and design patterns
Cons of Symfony
- Steeper learning curve, especially for beginners
- Smaller community and ecosystem compared to Django
- Less built-in functionality out of the box, requiring more initial setup
Code Comparison
Django (URL routing):
urlpatterns = [
path('articles/<int:year>/', views.year_archive),
path('articles/<int:year>/<int:month>/', views.month_archive),
path('articles/<int:year>/<int:month>/<slug:slug>/', views.article_detail),
]
Symfony (URL routing):
article_list:
path: /articles/{year}
controller: App\Controller\ArticleController::listAction
requirements:
year: \d+
Both frameworks offer powerful routing capabilities, but Symfony's approach is more configuration-based, while Django's is more code-centric. Symfony's routing is typically defined in YAML or XML files, offering a clear separation between configuration and code. Django's routing is defined directly in Python, which can be more intuitive for some developers but may lead to less separation of concerns.
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====== Django
Django is a high-level Python web framework that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design. Thanks for checking it out.
All documentation is in the "docs
" directory and online at
https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/stable/. If you're just getting started,
here's how we recommend you read the docs:
-
First, read
docs/intro/install.txt
for instructions on installing Django. -
Next, work through the tutorials in order (
docs/intro/tutorial01.txt
,docs/intro/tutorial02.txt
, etc.). -
If you want to set up an actual deployment server, read
docs/howto/deployment/index.txt
for instructions. -
You'll probably want to read through the topical guides (in
docs/topics
) next; from there you can jump to the HOWTOs (indocs/howto
) for specific problems, and check out the reference (docs/ref
) for gory details. -
See
docs/README
for instructions on building an HTML version of the docs.
Docs are updated rigorously. If you find any problems in the docs, or think they should be clarified in any way, please take 30 seconds to fill out a ticket here: https://code.djangoproject.com/newticket
To get more help:
-
Join the
#django
channel onirc.libera.chat
. Lots of helpful people hang out there.Webchat is available <https://web.libera.chat/#django>
_. -
Join the django-users mailing list, or read the archives, at https://groups.google.com/group/django-users.
-
Join the
Django Discord community <https://discord.gg/xcRH6mN4fa>
_. -
Join the community on the
Django Forum <https://forum.djangoproject.com/>
_.
To contribute to Django:
- Check out https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/dev/internals/contributing/ for information about getting involved.
To run Django's test suite:
- Follow the instructions in the "Unit tests" section of
docs/internals/contributing/writing-code/unit-tests.txt
, published online at https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/dev/internals/contributing/writing-code/unit-tests/#running-the-unit-tests
Supporting the Development of Django
Django's development depends on your contributions.
If you depend on Django, remember to support the Django Software Foundation: https://www.djangoproject.com/fundraising/
Top Related Projects
Laravel is a web application framework with expressive, elegant syntax. We’ve already laid the foundation for your next big idea — freeing you to create without sweating the small things.
Ruby on Rails
The Python micro framework for building web applications.
Fast, unopinionated, minimalist web framework for node.
Spring Framework
The Symfony PHP framework
Convert
designs to code with AI
Introducing Visual Copilot: A new AI model to turn Figma designs to high quality code using your components.
Try Visual Copilot