Blog_Banner_Asset
    Homebreadcumb forward arrow iconBlogbreadcumb forward arrow iconFull Stack Developmentbreadcumb forward arrow iconDjango vs Flask: Difference Between Django and Flask [Which is Better?]

Django vs Flask: Difference Between Django and Flask [Which is Better?]

Last updated:
24th Mar, 2020
Views
Read Time
6 Mins
share image icon
In this article
Chevron in toc
View All
Django vs Flask: Difference Between Django and Flask [Which is Better?]

Introduction

Python is now a widely-used programming language for server-side web development. It offers benefits such as cleaner code and flexibility, and as a developer, you have the option to use its exciting web frameworks. This way, you can bring all your app ideas to life very fast.

While developing web applications in Python, you will come across two popular web frameworks – Django and Flask. We will learn more about them in this article.

Let us understand their basics first.

Check out our free courses to get an edge over the competition

Ads of upGrad blog

Read: Top 12 Fascinating Python Applications in Real-World

What is Django?

Django is a web framework coded in Python. It is open-sourced and was developed for programmers to create applications and websites faster. The framework is maintained by the Django Software Foundation. Django offers flexibility, scalability, and reliability to developers. Learn more about the Django applications.

It is very secure owing to its user authentication system that makes handling user accounts and passwords easy. 

Being open-source, you can download the source code easily. It has a powerful community that constantly enhances the framework by adding plug-ins and updates.

Check out upGrad’s Advanced Certification in Blockchain

What is Flask?

Created using Python, Flask is a micro-web framework, which is used for building web applications as it does not need specific libraries and tools to work. As a beginner, it is easy to learn Flask as it has a simple code and syntax for converting ideas into applications. Flask is built on the Jinja2 template engine and WSGI toolkit.

Other salient features include:

  • It is compatible with Google App Engine
  • It is Unicode based
  • It has a debugger and a development server
  • It provides secure cookies

Moreover, the Flask framework has many extensions that you can use for enhancing its features.

Now that you have wrapped your head around the basics of the two frameworks, let us compare and understand their differences. This will help you settle the debate – Django vs Flask.  

Check out upGrad’s Advanced Certification in DevOps 

Explore our Popular Software Engineering Courses

Django vs Flask: A comparison

Framework type

Django is a full-stack framework, which is based on a batteries-included approach. The batteries are tools, features, and patterns. These can be used by developers for tasks such as URL routing and user authentication.

On the other hand, Flask is a lightweight framework that offers many out-of-the-box services such as unit testing, error handling, cookies and plenty of third-party extensions.

Database

Django has ORM (Object Relational Mapping), which supports databases such as Oracle, MySql and SQLite. The ORM helps in transferring data between the database and application model. It also maps attributes to their respective fields on the database. ORM also assists in managing database migrations. All this enhances the speed of the development process.

Flask does not have an ORM system and you can choose the ORM that works for your app. Furthermore, Flask requires you to perform database operations with SQLAlchemy. So, you can say that Flask gives you more freedom.

Explore Our Software Development Free Courses

Administration

Django has a built-in administration panel that can be used for handling all administrative tasks. This helps you to perform CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete) for your applications. Furthermore, you can use this panel to manage website content and manage users.

The Flask Admin is an extension that you can use for including administration interfaces in the applications. It is not as powerful as Django’s admin panel but allows you complete control over the look and feel.

Forms

Django comes with forms that are crucial parts of web apps. This is possible by the class called ModelForms that allows you to create forms without HTML code.

But Flask does not support forms. However, its Flask-WTF extension helps you to integrate Flask with WTForms.

In-Demand Software Development Skills

Learning curve

Unlike Flask, Django has a steep learning curve and beginners using this framework might take a while to perfect its use. However, experienced programmers will find it easier to understand Django than Flask.

Flask is easy to learn for beginners and you can master the concepts as you tinker with it.

Community support

Django has a large and powerful developer community where you are likely to find developers to assist you in your project. Moreover, if you have a problem with your application, you can be sure to find the solutions on the net as it has a lot of users.

Flask is relatively new and has a smaller community, so information may be a little difficult to find.       

Read our Popular Articles related to Software Development

Ads of upGrad blog

Also read: Top 12 Django Interview Questions & Answers for Beginners

Django vs Flask: Wrapping things up

In terms of features, Django is way ahead of Flask – having many extensions, plugins, updates, ORM, in-built forms. The battery included approach makes development faster. It is a great framework for building complex web applications.

But if you are creating a small web application, Flask is great and flexible. It is easier to learn, has customizable admin support and will enable newbies to make applications faster. Thus, the battle of Django vs Flask can be concluded by saying that it all depends upon your project requirements.

If you’re interested to learn more about Django, full stack, check out upGrad & IIIT-B’s PG Diploma in Full-stack Software Development which is designed for working professionals and offers 500+ hours of rigorous training, 9+ projects and assignments, IIIT-B Alumni status, practical hands-on capstone projects & job assistance with top firms.

Profile

Arjun Mathur

Blog Author
Arjun is Program marketing manager at UpGrad for the Software development program. Prior to UpGrad, he was a part of the French ride-sharing unicorn "BlaBlaCar" in India. He is a B.Tech in Computers Science from IIT Delhi and loves writing about technology.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1What are the advantages of using Django for your project?

Django is among the most popular Python-based frameworks that are used to develop web applications. It is ideal for creating highly scalable web-based applications and provides a simple, flexible, rapid, and reliable framework. There is a massive community of developers and Django experts who keep contributing towards updating and evolving the libraries. There are several reasons why Django is popular. It is easy to learn since it is developed in Python and comes with cross-platform compatibility. It offers excellent security features essential for building financial applications. It is reliable and scalable, and supported by top-notch documentation for developers.

2What applications can you develop using Django?

Django has gained enormous popularity among application developers due to its simplicity, flexibility, security, and robust framework. It can be used to build a wide variety of applications. Django is great for building content management systems, e-commerce, and booking websites. It can also be used to develop social networking websites that support communication. Due to the high-security features of Django, it is ideal for creating financial sites that ask for personal information. Customized CRM applications for internal organizational uses can also be developed and document management systems. iOS and Android applications can also be developed using Django and legal websites.

3What is Flask used for?

Flask, one of the most popular Python frameworks, is a lightweight and small web-based framework that is based on Python. It provides various useful features and tools that make developing web-based apps easier. Flask offers greater flexibility to developers and is more accessible for new programmers too. It uses a single file in Python and can also be extended easily. It does not require forcing any specific directory structure or complex coding to start with coding. Flask is used to develop web-based applications using Python. And can also be adopted quickly, even by beginners. This framework is best used when its flexibility and customizability are taken advantage of.

Explore Free Courses

Suggested Blogs

Top 40 MySQL Interview Questions & Answers For Beginners & Experienced [2023]
117708
Have a Data engineering or data science interview coming up? Need to practice some of the most asked MySQL interview questions? The article compiles t
Read More

by Rohan Vats

07 Nov 2023

Literals In Java: Types of Literals in Java [With Examples]
5891
Summary: In this article, you will learn about Literals in Java. Literals in Java Integral Literals Floating-Point Literals Char Literals String Lit
Read More

by Rohan Vats

29 Oct 2023

10 Interesting HTML Project Ideas & Topics For Beginners [2023]
392331
Summary In this article, you will learn 10 Interesting HTML Project Topics. Take a glimpse below. A tribute page A survey form Technical documentati
Read More

by Rohan Vats

04 Oct 2023

15 Exciting SQL Project Ideas & Topics For Beginners [2023]
284775
Summary: In this Article, you will learn 15 exciting SQL project ideas & topics for beginners. Library Management System Centralized College Dat
Read More

by Rohan Vats

24 Sep 2023

17 Interesting Java Project Ideas & Topics For Beginners 2023 [Latest]
34522
Summary: In this article, you will learn the 17 Interesting Java Project Ideas & Topics. Take a glimpse below. Airline reservation system Data v
Read More

by Rohan Vats

24 Sep 2023

9 Exciting Software Testing Projects & Topics For Beginners [2023]
8190
Software testing might constitute 50% of a software development budget but it is viewed as a lethargic and unnecessary step by most students. Even edu
Read More

by Rohan Vats

21 Sep 2023

Top 10 Skills to Become a Full-Stack Developer in 2023
218086
In the modern world, if we talk about professional versatility, there’s no one better than a Full Stack Developer to represent the term “versatile.” W
Read More

by Rohan Vats

21 Sep 2023

Java Free Online Course with Certification [2023]
56898
The PYPL Popularity of Programming Language Index maintains that Java is the second most popular programming language in the world, after Python.  Alt
Read More

by Rohan Vats

20 Sep 2023

Salesforce Developer Salary in India in 2023 [For Freshers & Experienced]
903154
Wondering what is the range of salesforce salary in India? Businesses thrive because of customers. It does not matter whether the operations are B2B
Read More

by Rohan Vats

20 Sep 2023

Schedule 1:1 free counsellingTalk to Career Expert
icon
footer sticky close icon