DEV Community

Flask vs Django: Comparison Table

What’s a famous debate in the Python world?

Clearly, the comparison between Django vs Flask takes on the top popular topics to discuss.

And this is because they are two important frameworks that make it easy to build, deploy, and maintain web applications.

However, when it comes to choosing one for your app, you can compare them based on these factors:

✔️ Type of Framework
Flask doesn’t really handle the model layer, so it isn’t an MVC framework, but it does not impose any limitations on you if you choose to build one. Flask will readily assist you if you require a straightforward, single-file online application that accepts a form and returns a response, whether in HTML or not.

Although it utilizes slightly different terminology, Django closely adheres to the MVC paradigm. Django is an MTV (Model-Template-View) framework in its most basic form. Django refers to Views and Controllers as Views. In Django, views are referred to as templates, and controllers as views.

✔️ Database
Multiple databases such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, and Oracle, are supported since Flask-SQLAlchemy (using SQLA class framework) can be used. The framework’s security tables would be built at the default connection, SQLALCHEMY_DATABASE_URL.

Multiple databases are not explicitly supported by Django’s admin. You must create your own ModelAdmin classes that instruct the admin to utilize a certain database for content if you wish to offer an admin panel for a model on a database different than the one given by your router chain.

Read our blog PostgreSQL vs MySQL.

✔️ Type of Projects
Flask will be more convenient for you than Django if you’re trying to create a web project that is largely straightforward and has a few static pages.

Every kind of web application may be built using the Django platform. Whether you need a tiny application or have a huge project in mind, this framework may be the best option for you. It also enables the development of scalable applications. However, some individuals say that despite the fact that you can practice Django for newbie projects for educational purposes, it is too sophisticated to be used for simple apps. Django would be a redundant addition to your technological stack if your app doesn’t require a backend development.

✔️ Template Engine
Flask uses Jinja2 as its template engine. Naturally, you are welcome to use an alternative template engine, but in order to run Flask, you still need to install Jinja2. To make rich expansions possible, this condition must be met. Jinja2’s presence may be necessary for an extension.

The template system used by Django is called the Django template language. It was the built-in option accessible up until Django 1.8. Despite being rather opinionated and having a few quirks, it’s a useful template library. The Django template engine offers a potent mini-language for specifying the user-facing layer of your program, encouraging a clear separation of implementation and presentation logic. Anyone with a working grasp of HTML can maintain templates; Python is not necessary.

✔️ API support
A Flask addon called Flask-RESTful makes it possible to create REST APIs quickly. It is a simple abstraction that integrates with your current ORM and libraries. Best practices are promoted with minimal setup with Flask-RESTful. If you are already familiar with Flask, learning Flask-RESTful should be simple.

For creating Web APIs, the Django REST framework (DRF) offers a potent and adaptable toolset. Its biggest advantage is how much simpler serialization is as a result.

If you are familiar with Django, the Django REST framework is a great choice because it is built on the class-based views of Django. It incorporates implementations for model validator, forms, class-based views, QuerySet, and other things.

✔️ Security
The Flask framework does not have CSRF protection by default, but we may add it by using the Flask-WTF extension. Here is an illustration of how to enable CSRF protection. It will allow CSRF protection for the entire app, protecting us against CSRF.

The X-Frame-Options middleware, which in a compatible browser can restrict a site from becoming rendered inside a frame, is a feature of Django’s clickjacking security. It is possible to modify the precise header value transmitted or to deactivate the security on a per-view basis.

✔️ Flexibility
Between Python Flask vs Django, Flask allows programmers the freedom to alter their apps however they see fit. This enables them to lessen problems that can occur as a result of other frameworks’ rigidity. They are released from having to use particular technical elements.

The Django web application framework only functions well with relational databases, it is vital to know. Flask provides a variety of extensions that integrate with the Marshmallow framework-independent library. As a result, it can offer greater flexibility than Django.

This table offers a clear comparison of each factor.

Flask vs Django ClickIT

Which one should you choose?

It depends on your application, but developers who are building large, complex, database-driven applications may prefer Django.

In contrast, developers who are building small, focused applications or who are new to web development may prefer Flask.

Which one do you prefer? And are we missing other features in this table? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.


For a full comparison between these frameworks, check out the original post by ClickIT here: https://www.clickittech.com/developer/flask-vs-django/?utm_source=devto&utm_medium=backlinks

Top comments (0)