Django and Flask are popular web frameworks in Python, used for developing web applications. While both have overlapping functionalities, they hold significant differences that make each suitable for certain projects (¹).
According to the official websites of Django (²) and Flask (³), a fundamental distinction is that Django is high-level and includes pre-written “batteries-included” features, while Flask is more low-level and minimalistic. Django’s strength lies in its feature-rich environment, making it an excellent choice for larger projects, or when developing under tight deadlines. It has pre-written code for typical website applications like authentication, URL routing, template engine, ORM (Object-Relational Mapping), database schema migrations and others. Django follows the MVT (Model-View-Template) pattern and prompts for a specific directory structure, which provides a unified coding style. However, it may be overkill for smaller, simple applications due to its heavy framework (⁴).
On the other hand, Flask offers more flexibility and control as it does not make decisions for the developer. It doesn’t come with pre-written tools like Django; it enables you to choose and integrate Python libraries. This makes Flask capable of creating simple websites with simplicity and performance in focus. It follows the MVC (Model-View-Controller) architectural pattern, but it’s more adaptable in terms of project layout. Since Flask has fewer layers of abstraction, it can be quicker and more efficient for simple applications, but it would require more work (more decisions on libraries and features) for complex applications (¹⁰).
It’s also important to consider the learning curve. Django, with its pre-built functionalities, may seem daunting to beginners because there is more to learn upfront. Conversely, Flask’s simplicity provides an easier learning path for beginners in web development (⁵).
In conclusion, the choice between Django and Flask depends on the project requirements and the expertise of the development team. Django is suitable for large-scale, high-level applications where all the batteries-included features may be utilized and deadlines are tight. Flask will be suitable when you need more control, simplicity, performance focus, or when the application is small to medium size (⁶).
Sources:
(¹) Full Stack Python. (n.d.). Flask. Retrieved from https://www.fullstackpython.com/flask.html
(²) Django Project. (n.d.). Django Overview. Retrieved from https://www.djangoproject.com/start/overview/
(³) Pallets Projects. (n.d.). Welcome – Flask Documentation. Retrieved from https://flask.palletsprojects.com/en/2.0.x/
(⁴) Mozilla. (n.d.). Django Introduction. Retrieved from https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Introduction
(⁵) Real Python. (2018, April 09). Flask vs Django: An In-Depth Comparison. Retrieved from https://realpython.com/flask-vs-django/
(⁶) Hackr. (n.d.). Flask vs Django – Choose The Best Python Framework. Retrieved from https://hackr.io/blog/flask-vs-django
(¹⁰) GeeksforGeeks. (2020, February, 11). Flask vs Django – Which Framework Should You Choose?. Retrieved from https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/flask-vs-django-which-framework-should-you-choose/
