Which framework is better, Django or Flask?
Literally, a framework is a real or conceptual structure intended to serve as a support or guide for the development of something which in turn makes the structure a useful one. Web application framework is an existing way to build web-enabled applications. A web application framework is a software framework that is designed to support the development of dynamic websites, web applications and web services. It actually makes it easier for you to develop your application. Most websites have a common set of functionality such as handling sessions, data validation, etc. A web-framework is something that prevents you from re-writing this each time you create a website. If you decide to develop an application based on Python programming language you would probably want a web-framework. Few examples of web frameworks based on Python are Django, Pyramid, Flask etc.
Background Information
Django and Flask are very widely used frameworks. Django had its first release in 2006 while Flask started in mid-2010. Django is a heavier framework than Flask. Flask implements a little and leaves the rest to the developer’s discretion while Django gives you a lot more outside the box. Django has inbuilt bootstrapping tools while Flask has none. Django aims at rapid deployment and development of various apps built in Python while Flask aims at simplicity and minimalism. Django is an extremely mature framework with well equipped plugins and extensions to meet a wide range of needs. Flask has been able to learn from frameworks that came before it and has set its sights firmly on small projects.
Databases and Architecture
Django provides Object Relational Mapping(ORM) that allows working with several types of databases like SQLite, PostgreSQL, Oracle, and MySQL. Flask does not support databases as such, they combine with SQLAlchemy which is database toolkit for Python. Django follows Model View Controller(MVC) architectural pattern. Flask does not utilize MVC pattern because it has no model. It basically provides routing, Hypertext Transfer Protocol(HTTP) handling and templating.
Support
Flask is great at building static content applications; it provides all the functionalities you need and also allows customization to a huge extent. Django is great for building complex sites with dynamic content with scalability in mind. Flask allows you to implement things the way you want but Django provides all inclusive experiences such as admin panel, database interfaces, an ORM, and directory structure for your apps.
Recommendation
However, in terms of highlighting which framework is better, I have worked with Django framework and I have skimmed through Flask documentation and projects. It is sometimes difficult to choose between the two. This is because the frameworks allow the customization of the applications and the choice depends on the developer’s need at a point in time. The most amazing part of the story is that even when you get into their more advanced functionalities, such as templates, the two remain very similar in many aspects. I have seen many job advertisements and freelance projects request for “Django or Flask experience” as a result of their fundamental similarities. It is therefore easy to switch from one to the other if you ever need to.
In a situation whereby you want to build a typical online store, there are modules for e-commerce in Django, and its ORM capabilities will see you through. If it happens to be a dynamic blog or an online media, Django will make do because examples in the documentation demonstrate more than half of the work. A beginner in web development should rather go for Flask because it is easier to understand. Building a REST-ful API, you had rather go for Django because of its powerful tool-kit (Django-Rest-Framework). When there is need to build web applications with ingenious SQL queries, I will recommend Flask because Django-ORM features most likely will not be sufficient.
In conclusion, the choice of a web-framework between Django and Flask depends on the developer’s interest and need.
In all, none of the two frameworks can be underestimated.
