Django vs Flask

Differences Between Django vs Flask

Both Django vs Flask are web frameworks for Python. Django, on one hand, provides a full-featured Model-View-Controller Framework, flask, on the other hand, is a micro-framework which beliefs 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 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 creative, updates, read and delete kind of 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 which when put to use works as if built in Flask itself. 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 some list of points that explains the key difference between Django and Flask:

1. The parameter to be discussed is in relation with a transfer of request object. Each view is set as an individual parameter in Django whereas the request based object is imported from 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.

Conclusion

All in all, both are open source Python web frameworks. Django is a full stack framework, whereas Flask is a micro and a lightweight framework. There is no strict set of rules as to what one should use. Many believe as 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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