Django vs Flask

Differences Between Django vs Flask

Both Django vs Flask are web frameworks for Python. On the one hand, Django provides a full-featured Model-View-Controller Framework; a flask, on the other hand, is a micro-framework that believes in the concept of doing one thing and do it well. It does not provide an ORM. Flask comes up with the basic set of tools for authorization or a third-party plugin such as Flask HTTP-Auth. Flask doesn’t need any specific libraries or tools. Flask community provides an ORM with a rich set of extensions to match its capabilities with that of Django.

Django

Django’s primary aim is to simplify the process of website creation, which is often complex, database-driven. It emphasizes reusability of components, less code, low coupling, rapid and fast-paced development. Python is the primary language extensively used, even for data models and setting files. It also provides creativity, updates, read and delete an interface generated through introspection and built via admin models. They take different approaches to design a web application and create a REST-based API design. Django framework uses its own built-in user model, which facilitates API authorization and authentication. It alone can be used to create a RESTful API.

Flask

Flask doesn’t need any specific libraries or tools. It also doesn’t have a database abstraction layer, pre-existing third-party-based built-in libraries, and common functions or form validation methods. It, though, provides a wide variety of extensions that, when put to use, works as if built-in Flask itself. The need for extensions arises as a part of object-relational mappers, upload handling, form validations, open authentication technologies, and many common framework-dependent tools, and one can also expect a very quick and frequent update for the extensions even more than the ones supported for the program.

Head to Head Comparison Between Django and flask (Infographics)

Below is the top 7 comparison between Django and Flask:

Key Differences Between Django and Flask

Below is a list of points that explains the key difference between Django and Flask:

1. The parameter to be discussed is in relation to a transfer of the request object. Each view is set as an individual parameter in Django, whereas the request-based object is imported from the flask module and looks like a global variable in the case of Flask.
2. Django relies on its ORM or uses its SQLAlchemy, whereas Flask makes use of peewee and SQLAlchemy. Due to the void of any present ORM, authors create independent solutions from a particular ORM. Flask minimalism, therefore, gives a positive effect on the environment.
3. Flask applications are mostly SPAs (Single Page Applications), whereas, with Django, your project application is divided into smaller chunks, thereby giving the developers an easy to code single applications and merge them to form the application as a whole.

Django and Flask Comparison Table

Below is the comparison table between Django and Flask.

Basis of comparison	Django	Flask
Structure	Django is a Python-based free, open-source framework that follows the MVC (model view controller) approach of an architectural pattern.	Flask is a Python-based micro framework without any set of particular tools or external libraries. It also doesn’t have a database layer or provisions for form validation and makes use of extensions.
Features	Components Object-relational mapper Model-relational database View- web templating system Controller- regex-based URL dispatcher Serialization Inheritance Caching Middleware classes support Internationalization Unit-testing framework Bundled Applications Authentication system Admin interface Atom and RSS syndication feeds Google’s sitemaps Built-in mitigation Framework for GIS applications Extensibility Server Arrangements	Development server Development debugger Inbuilt support for unit testing Jinja2 templates RESTful request dispatch Support for secure cookies Full WSGI compliant Extensive documentation Unicode based Google app-based engine compatibility Extensions for desired features Modular and a lightweight design ORM- agnostic High flexibility HTTP request handling provision APIs are nicely shaped and coherent Easily deployable in production
Sites using these frameworks	Public Broadcasting Service, Mozilla, Instagram, The Washington Times, BitBucket, Disqus, Nextdoor.	Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Flask community in itself
Project Layout	Conventional project structure	Arbitrary structure
Flexibility	It doesn’t exclude setting flexibility	It is believed that all the possible permutations to organize a Flask code equals the applications number present in the flask already.
Routing Mechanism	Urls.py is used to set the connection properties, and requests are tackled by the first matching view of the regex list.	URI is most often than not, set by the view decorator, and centralized configuration is also possible. Before the patterns are matched with the URIs, the latter is sorted in default order.
Advantages	Versioning Browsable API Periodic and regular releases Rigid application structure Functional admin panel Lots of batteries Huge community Huge third-party application support Descriptive and elaborative documentation	Speed Support for NoSQL Minimal complexity Absolute minimalism No ORM, easily connected with extensions Debugger embedded in a browser Short and simple code among other Python web skeletons

Conclusion

All in all, both are open-source Python web frameworks. Django is a full-stack framework, whereas Flask is a micro and lightweight framework. There is no strict set of rules as to what one should use. Many believe Django to be the be-all and end-all, but that might not be the case in every scenario. Know your requirements and choose the framework wisely per your team’s need. I hope you liked this Django vs Flask post. Stay tuned for more articles on Web Development.

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