Flask — What is It?

Python microweb frameworks.

When web developers hear this word, Flask and Django come to their mind. I’ll discuss Django some other day. But for now, let me tell you about Flask. First things first, what is Flask?

Basically, it’s a micro web framework for developers that is used to make and scale web apps. Those apps can also be made more secure and quick to load using Flask.

By the way, Flask is called a micro web framework because it doesn’t require a special tool or library. The syntax is minimal, and you can create a web app easily. Some use Flask to create web interfaces, while others use it to create APIs and visualization tools.

Moreover, it was created by Armin Ronacher, an Austrian software developer, in 2010. And it started as an April Fool’s joke. Yes, you read that right.

But you see, now it’s one of the most admired frameworks. Moreover, according to a survey conducted by Stack Overflow in 2023, Flask is among the admired frameworks. But why this name? Well, the creator, Ronacher, was annoyed by Bottle, which is another web framework. Hence, he named it Flask.

The specialty of Flask is that it provides a good developer experience with clear and simple interfaces. It also demonstrates how to make a layer on Werkzeug and Jinja.

Moreover, there is nothing like a data abstraction layer, form validation, and complex ORM in Flask. You can also use extensions to extend Flask to perform functions like adding data to a database and doing form validation. Companies like Pinterest and LinkedIn use Flask in their internal tools.

Additionally, Flask can help create web applications, develop APIs, make prototype apps, construct microservices, etc. Some pros of Flask are that it:

1. Is lightweight
2. Supports secure cookies
3. Request dispatching using REST
4. Has a built-in development server and a fast debugger

Now, as per developers who frequently use Flask, it is best to use it when you have to experiment with different architectures, libraries, and technologies.

You can also use Flask when you have to set up some API or rapidly iterate on some small project. If you are a beginner, then I would recommend that you use Flask because it is more flexible. However, like any other framework, it also has many disadvantages. For instance, Flask lacks built-in features. Developers have to use other libraries. Lack of standardization is another big problem in Flask. Now, Flask users also have to write their own SQL statements. Django, on the other hand, supports ORM.

So, that’s a wrap-up. You now know why you should use Flask and what its disadvantages are. Moreover, it’s totally up to you to decide whether you should learn it or not. But learning it will definitely be worth your time.