11.5 Flask & Django: Web Frameworks
A brief overview of Flask and Django, the two most popular web frameworks for developing web applications with Python.
Web frameworks are collections of modules and packages that provide a structured way to develop web applications. They significantly simplify the development process by providing ready-made tools and structures for common tasks such as URL management (routing), database interaction, user management, and rendering HTML pages.
Django: The "Batteries-Included" Framework
It is a full-stack web framework. Its philosophy is "batteries-included," which means it provides almost everything you need "out-of-the-box": a powerful ORM (Object-Relational Mapper) for databases, a user authentication system, an admin panel, and much more. It is ideal for large, complex applications that require rapid development with proven solutions.
Flask: The "Micro" Framework
It is a microframework. This does not mean it lacks features, but that its core package is lightweight and provides only the absolute essentials (like routing and a template system). For anything else (e.g., ORM, form handling), the developer is free to choose from a plethora of extensions. It is ideal for smaller applications, APIs, or for developers who want full control over every part of their application.
Tip!
Development with web frameworks requires local installation ('pip install flask' or 'pip install django') and cannot be done in the live editor.
# Example of a very simple Flask application (does not run here)
# from flask import Flask
#
# app = Flask(__name__)
#
# @app.route('/')
# def hello_world():
# return 'Hello, World from Flask!'
#
# if __name__ == '__main__':
# app.run(debug=True)
print("Flask and Django are web frameworks for developing dynamic websites.")
Practical Exercises
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