Python has been proven to be the most popular programming language for scalable web application development. Web application development is the process of designing, building, and deploying web-based apps. Generally, most web applications offer various functionalities, including but not limited to database connection, server authentication, upload support, etc. It is thus helpful to have an API that includes tools and modules that allow the web developer to implement various functionalities.
When it comes to web app development, Django is one of the most web development frameworks that makes the web development process faster and easier. Django offers a comprehensive range of advanced features and functionality that automate & streamline the overall web development process. If you are a business developer looking to build a web app with Python and Django, this blog is for you.
In this blog, you will learn how to build web applications with Python using Django. In addition, we will also discuss the top benefits of using Django for your web development.
So, let’s get started with the basics!
What Is Django?
Django is an open-source web application framework for automating and streamlining the entire web development process. When it comes to simplicity and advanced features, Django is one of the best frameworks for web development. Python developers enable faster web app development as you don't have to write code separately from scratch.
The framework offers advanced functionality, such as app management, authentication, upload support, and more. With the Django framework, you can strengthen the security of your web app using enhanced security features and avoid security threats. If you are planning to build quality, feature-rich, and scalable web applications, hire a Django developer to create a fully customized web app for your business. Spotify, Instagram, and Pinterest are just a few names of the most popular apps built on Django.
Top Advantages of Using Django Framework For Web App Development
Here are the top benefits of using Django for web app development, including but not limited to;
1. Faster Development
Django is designed to simplify the web app development process while reducing the overall development time. Furthermore, it makes web app development fast, efficient, and affordable. In addition, it ensures the on-time delivery of web applications.
2. Enhanced security
Improved security is one of the most lucrative features of using Django. Using Django, you no longer need to add or implement security features manually. It is easier to implement & deploy security patches to address the latest security standards.
3. Large community support
Django has dedicated community support for all the Django developers. If you encounter any problems during the web development process, you can get help from Django developers to fix the issue and simplify the overall development process more efficiently.
4. Fast Processing
Because Django's Architecture differs from all other frameworks in the industry, this is a decent advantage over other frameworks. This means that Django uses the MTV architecture, which allows the resources to be placed on a content delivery network so that they can be sent over the Internet more quickly.
There isn't much to complain about when it comes to Django's performance since it's pretty fast. Moreover, a significant difference between Django and other frameworks is in its architecture.
5. Simplicity
Documentation is maintained at the same level as when it was launched, making it easy to use. The main reason for choosing Django is its simplicity: it covers the basics of development, leaving you free to focus on your project's most complex or unique aspects.
6. Highly Scalable
Apps built on Django are best known for improved scalability since they can withstand high traffic more efficiently. No matter how heavy the network demand is apps built on Django will ensure to meet that flawlessly.
How To Build Web Applications in Python With Django: Ultimate Guide
Here we are going to create a simple web app with Python and Django that displays a simple "Hello World" message. The first step is to create a Django project, within which you will create an application. So, let’s get started with creating a project first.
1. Install Django
a) First, you need to install Django when it comes to building a web app in Python with Django. To do so, navigate the command prompt using the following command;
pip install Django
Now consider installing any additional packages you require for your project while the virtual environment is activated.
For instance, to install the Django REST framework:
pip install djangorestframework
b) Verify Django Installation
After the installation is done successfully, run the following command and verify if the Django is properly installed:
django-admin --version
You will see that Django is installed properly.
2 . Create a Django Project
Project Structure
When the Django Project includes basic files like view.py, manage.py, and urls.py by default when it is executed. Having a basic project structure is sufficient when it comes to building a single-page application. You can find some of these major files with their explanations;
manage.py: Python developers use this file to interact with the project via the command line, such as server execution, data sync, and more. The file manage.py can execute a number of commands more efficiently. Use the help command to see a complete list of commands managed.py is capable of executing.
This file is also known as a Python package. Packages or modules within a package are imported when the file is invoked. This is commonly used for initializing data at the package level, such as package initialization code.
This is used to store all project links and functions to call.
This file includes all the settings of the website. Applications, static files, database configurations, etc., are all registered in this file.
You can this file to deploy the project in WSGI. It allows your Django application to communicate with the webserver.
Now is the time to create a project folder with the name, test_project. Afterward, you can change the directory name into it.
mkdir test_project
cd test_project
Next, you can create a Django project named config inside the current directory;
django-admin startproject config
You can then create a config folder in the test_project folder that includes the following files and mange.py.
Afterward, you need to run the development server. If the test_project directory is where the manage.py file was created, make sure you're in that directory.
cd test_project
In the next step, navigate to http://127.0.0.1:8000/ from your web browser. You will see the following page:
Here you need to stop the development server.
Type the following keyword to leave the server:
CONTROL-C
3. Create an app in Django
Ensure that you change the directory into the test_project folder before getting started with the app development process.
cd test_project
Inside the test_project folder, you can now create a Django app named test_app
django-admin startapp test_app
You will now see a test_app directory and db.sqlite3 file created along with views and models.
Django comes up with some pre-installed apps for users. To check pre-installed apps, follow the path test_project > test_app > settings.py. When you open the settings.py file, you see a list of INSTALLED_APPS. Django offers a list of INSTALLED_APPS for the comfort of developers.
Now that you have finally developed an app, but URLs redirected to it won't work unless you include it in your main project. To do so, follow the path; test_project >config> urls.py and add the following code:
from django.urls import include
urlpatterns = [
# Enter name of the app in below syntax
path('', include("test_app.urls")),
]
Adding this code includes the function to the main test_project/config folder, you will be able to automatically include URLs, models, views, etc. in your test_app using the default MVT model. Essentially, Django Apps function as independent units, each of which supports the main project (config) independently.
It will not be possible to access the test_app's URL through the urls.py file in the config folder. The following code must be included in urls.py to make your Django Web app function correctly. In order to see it properly in a web browser, you will need to invoke the view.py function you will create. In order to achieve this, follow the code below:
from django.urls import path
from. import views
urlpatterns=[
path('',views.index)
]
from django.shortcuts import render
#import the django HttpResponse module
from django.http import HttpResponse
# Create your views here.
# define a function for our view with the HttpResponse function
def index(request):
return HttpResponse("Hello World")
To make it visible in a web browser, this code calls the function defined in views.py. Set ROOT_URLCONF to 'app.urls' (test_app), which is the value that should be set in the settings.py file in the project directory.
You can now run the development server again.
To run the server, navigate the URL http://127.0.0.1:8000/ in your web browser. This will display the page below;
That’s it!
Conclusion
Hope you find this guide helpful for creating a web application with Python and Django. However, the process of building a web application in Python using Django is not that simple it seems. It requires a solid knowledge of the Python framework named Django and proven years of experience building quality web applications.
If you are a business looking to build a web application in Python using Django, following the above guide can help create a web app more successfully. In addition, if you are a non-technical person or don’t know how to build a web app with Python and Django, hire a Python developer from a reputed web app development company in India.