Introduction to web frameworks Flask or Django
A web framework in the Python programming language is a software infrastructure framework or platform that provides Python user programmers with a number of essential tools and libraries to develop website and web application designs in Python. Instead of starting from scratch in Python, software developers can use these ready-made Python framework tools to manage common website webpage tasks such as web URL routing, request handling, databases, templates, forms, authentication, and security.
There are many popular web frameworks in the Python programming language, but Flask and Django are two of the most common and popular web design development frameworks.
What is a web application in Python?
A web application in the Python programming language is a system-defined program that Python users control and access through client web browser software.
Web application example.
- In online shopping website design development
- In social media platform exploration
- In banking application management
- In student management systems for schools and colleges
- In a personal blog and webpage
- In an online reservation booking system
Basic web user communication works something like this.
Internet User
↓
Client Web Browser Software Application
↓
HTTP Web Request
↓
Dedicated Web Server / Python Framework
↓
Application Logic
↓
Database Access
↓
HTTP Response
↓
Client Web Browser
For example, when an internet user navigates to this address…
/employee/109
The Python web framework takes this web request as input and decides which code will handle the /employee/109 web request, perhaps pulling information from an existing database, and returning that response to the client’s web browser.
Why use a web framework in Python web development?
Without a Python web development framework library, a Python web developer would have to manually implement many common web-development features into a webpage website.
A ready-made framework in Python web development provides you with the tools and features.
- Webpage URL routing
- Easy handling of webpage HTTP requests and responses
- HTML template development support
- Website-based database interaction features
- Form client for web user data collection
- Online web user authentication system
- Multiple web request sessions
- Any online web error handling solution
- Website advanced security features
- Web application organization
Because of this, Python ready-made web frameworks make your web development process faster, easier to maintain, and more structured.
Flask Web Framework in Python.
Flask is a lightweight ready-made web framework library for Python web development.
The Flask web framework is often referred to as a microframework, as the core of the Flask web framework provides all the essential basic tools and features for web application design and development without forcing a large web development project structure or including every possible feature by default.
Installing the Flask framework in Python programming.
Use the Python pip command.
pip install flask
A simple Python program for the Flask framework.
from flask import Flask
app = Flask(__name__)
@app.route(“/”)
def home():
return “Welcome to, Python Flask framework”
if __name__ == “__main__”:
app.run()
When you run this application, this output displays the correct local address in the client web browser.
Welcome to, Python Flask framework
Understanding a Flask program in Python.
So, let’s take a closer look at each element of the Flask program above.
Import Flask
from flask import Flask
This imports the Flask web framework class into the Python environment.
Create a Python web application
app = Flask(__name__)
This creates an object for the Flask web framework application in the Python environment.
Define a web route.
@app.route(“/”)
This connects a URL to a Python function in the Python environment.
Here, the / slash symbol displays the home page information.
Define a single function.
def home():
return “Welcome to, Python Flask framework”
When someone navigates to the /home route in Flask, Flask runs this function and displays the web response.
Flask Routing in Python.
Similarly, users can create multiple webpages by applying different routes using the Flask web framework application in a Python environment.
from flask import Flask
app = Flask(__name__)
@app.route(“/”)
def home():
return “Home Page”
@app.route(“/blog”)
def blog():
return “Blog Page”
@app.route(“/about”)
def about():
return “About Us Page”
@app.route(“/contact”)
def contact():
return “Contact Us Page”
@app.route(“/disclaimers”)
def disclaimers():
return “Disclaimers Page”
if __name__ == “__main__”:
app.run()
Now, there are five root webpages defined in the Flask web framework application.
/ → Home Page
/blog → Blog Page
/about → About Us Page
/contact → Contact Us Page
/disclaimers → Disclaimers Page
Advantages of Flask for Python Web Development.
Flask is popular in the Python programming language because.
- Flask is an easy and simple web framework
- Flask is a lightweight web framework
- Flask is a flexible web framework
- Flask web development is easy to learn
- Flask is good for small and medium-sized web applications
- The Flask web framework is easy to customize
When web developers want an easy and lightweight framework, Flask is often a good web development option. You can select its different libraries and components.
Django Python Web Development Framework.
Django is a full-featured Python web design development framework library in the Python programming language. The Django framework is designed to develop robust web application designs.
Unlike the Flask web development framework, Django provides many features for Python web development as components of its framework.
Django follows this principle in Python web development.
“Don’t Repeat Yourself” (DRY)
The Django web framework also follows a structured web architecture, which helps organize large-scale web applications.
Installing the Django web framework in Python.
The Django web framework in the Python programming language can be manually installed as follows:
pip install django
You can check the Django installation in your Python development environment by running:
django-admin –version
Creating a Django project in the Python environment.
A new Django project in the Python web development framework can be created as follows:
django-admin startproject myfirstproject
The structure of a new Django project looks like this.
myfirstproject/
│
├── manage.py
│
└── myfirstproject/
├── __init__.py
├── settings.py
├── urls.py
├── asgi.py
└── wsgi.py
Explanation of required myfirstproject/ Django project file.
manage.py
This file is used to start a new Django project development server and perform administrative tasks such as creating a web application.
settings.py
This contains the configuration for your new Django project file.
urls.py
This indicates web URL routing in the Django project.
asgi.py and wsgi.py
These provide entry points for compatible application servers in Django projects.
Creating a new Django application in the Python web development framework.
Within a new Django project in the Python web development framework, web developers can develop an application design.
python manage.py startapp students
A Django project in the Python web development framework can contain multiple applications.
For example.
Company project
│
├── founder/Ceo
├── employee
├── manager
└── salary
This helps Python web developers display a large web project by dividing it into logical components.
Essential Features of the Django Python Web Development.
The Django Python web development framework provides web developers with several features, primarily these:
URL routing features.
This feature maps the URL of a website webpage to views.
Views Routing features.
This Django feature holds web application logic and determines which response should be returned.
Templates Routing features.
This Django feature is used to dynamically generate HTML webpages.
ORM features.
This Django feature provides an object-relational mapper (ORM) that helps Django web developers work with databases using Python objects and queries instead of creating SQL for every web operation.
Authentication features.
This Django feature provides built-in support for web users, passwords, logins, logouts, and permissions.
Admin interface features.
One of the most useful and best features of Django is its built-in administrative interface environment, which can be used to manage web application data.
Security features.
This Django feature provides built-in protection and security mechanisms for common web application threats.
Flask vs. Django Framework in Python Web Development.
| Each feature | Flask python web framework | Django python web framework |
| Its type | Flask use microframework for web development | Django support full-featured web development framework |
| Its complexity | Flask web framework relatively simple to implement | Django web framework more structured and some complex |
| Flexibility features | Flask web framework support very high flexibility | Django web framework more conventions features |
| Built-in features or not | Flask web framework provides fewer features | Django web framework provides many features |
| Database orm concept | Flask web framework not built into flask core | Django web framework built-in orm |
| Admin interface dashboard | Flask web not built into flask core dashboard | Django web framework built-in admin panel |
| Authentication concept | Flask web framework usually added through web extensions | Django web framework built-in authentication support |
| Learning curve or not | Flask web framework generally easier initially stage | Django web framework more concepts to learn in detail |
| Best usages for | Flask web framework usages in small/medium apps and apis | Django web framework usages in larger, feature-rich applications |
Example of Flask and Django in Python Web Development.
Example of Flask Python Web Development Framework.
Using the Flask framework in Python web development, a very small Flask application can be created in just a few lines.
from flask import Flask
app = Flask(__name__)
@app.route(“/”)
def home():
return “Let’s Try Flask Framework”
if __name__ == “__main__”:
app.run()
Example of Django Python Web Development Framework.
The Python Django web development framework requires more project structure, but as applications grow, the Django structure becomes useful.
A simple Django framework flow for Python web development looks like this.
Client Web Browser
↓
Dedicated URL
↓
Django URL Configuration
↓
View
↓
Model/Database
↓
Template
↓
Response
↓
Web Browser Output Preview
Architecture of the Flask and Django web development frameworks in Python.
To understand both Flask and Django web development frameworks, you’ll need to learn in detail about the Flask and Django model-view-controller (MVC) pattern and Django’s similar terminology in web development.
Flask and Django models.
It handles data and database operations in both the Flask and Django web development frameworks.
Flask and Django Views.
It handles application logic in both the Flask and Django web development frameworks, and determines what information should be returned.
Controller / URL Routing.
It determines which part of the web application will handle web requests. The Django framework generally uses the term Model, View, and Template (MVT).
- Model → Database/Data
- View → Application Logic
- Template → Presentation/HTML
When should a Python web developer use the Flask framework?
Choose the Flask web development framework when.
- When a Python web developer needs a simple web design development framework.
- When a Python web developer is learning web development from scratch.
- When a Python web developer is developing a small web application.
- When a Python web developer is designing a lightweight API.
- When you want more control over which web components you use.
- When a Python web developer doesn’t need many built-in features.
When should a Python web developer use the Django framework? Choose the Django web development framework when.
- When a Python web developer is developing a large web application.
- When a Python web developer needs strict web authentication and permissions.
- When a Python web developer needs large database management in their project.
- When a Python web developer needs a built-in admin interface.
- When a Python web developer needs a well-defined web project structure.
- When a Python web developer needs several basic web-development features from an existing framework.
A simple example of the Flask vs. Django framework in Python web development.
Suppose a Python web developer wants to develop a company management system design.
With the Flask framework, web developers can start with a small application and add only the web features their project needs.
With the Flask web development framework.
Flask
↓
Routing
↓
Web developer’s selected database tools
↓
Web developer’s selected authentication mechanisms
↓
Web developer’s selected extensions
With the Django framework, you get many common components already built in.
Django
↓
Web URL Routing
↓
Views
↓
ORM
↓
User Authentication
↓
Admin Panel Dashboard
↓
Template Choice
↓
Security Features
Because of this, the Django web development framework can be particularly easy for a feature-rich application, while the Flask web development framework offers web developers more freedom to assemble their application.
Advantages of Web Frameworks in Python Web Development
Using Flask or Django web frameworks offers several advantages.
- Faster development – Both Flask and Django web development frameworks have common functionality already built in.
- Better organization – Both Flask and Django web development frameworks allow web applications to be divided into logical components.
- Database support – Both Flask and Django web development frameworks can simplify database operations.
- Security – Both Flask and Django web development frameworks provide tools and protection against common security issues.
- Maintainability – Both Flask and Django web development frameworks make it easy to modify structured applications.
- Scalability – Both Flask and Django web development frameworks can be used to develop web applications that scale over time.
- Community support – Both Flask and Django web development frameworks have large Python developer communities built into them.
Conclusion of Introduction to Web Frameworks: Flask or Django.
Python web developers can easily develop websites and web applications using web frameworks in Python.
Flask and Django are both Python web development frameworks.
Flask Web Development Framework.
- Flask is a lightweight, easy, and flexible web development framework.
Django Web Development Framework.
- The Django web development framework is the best choice for full-featured, structured, and large-scale web application design and development.
An easy way to remember the difference between Flask and Django is.
- Flask → Minimal + Flexible
- Django → Complete + Structured
Remember, Flask and Django are both useful Python web framework technologies. The Flask framework is often easier to understand initially, while Django provides more built-in features and functionality for large, feature-rich web applications.
