Introduction to Django

Django is a high-level, open-source web framework written in Python that enables developers to build web applications quickly and efficiently. It follows the Model-View-Template (MVT) architectural pattern and is designed to help developers create secure, scalable, and maintainable web applications.

Django’s tagline is:

"The web framework for perfectionists with deadlines."

This highlights its ability to handle common web development tasks, allowing developers to focus on building features rather than reinventing the wheel.

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How Does Django Work?

Django provides a structured approach to building web applications. Here’s an overview of its core architecture and workflow.

1. Model-View-Template (MVT) Architecture

Django follows the MVT pattern, which separates concerns in a web application:

• Model: Defines the data structure and interacts with the database using Django’s ORM (Object-Relational Mapping). It translates database tables into Python classes.
• View: Handles business logic, processes user requests, and communicates with models. It returns responses based on user input.
• Template: Controls how the data is presented to the user. It uses Django’s templating engine to render dynamic HTML pages.

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2. How Django Handles a Web Request

When a user visits a Django-powered website, the request follows these steps:

1. User Requests a Page

   • The user enters a URL (e.g., www.example.com/home).
   • Django’s URL dispatcher (urls.py) matches the request to a view function.

2. View Processes the Request

   • The corresponding view function (views.py) executes the required logic.
   • It may interact with models (database) to retrieve or store data.

3. Templates Render the Response

   • If needed, the view passes data to an HTML template.
   • Django’s template engine dynamically renders the page with dynamic content.

4. Response is Sent to the Browser

   • The rendered HTML page is returned to the user’s browser.

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3. Key Features of Django

ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) – Interact with the database using Python instead of SQL.
Authentication System – Built-in support for user authentication, login, and permissions.
Admin Panel – A pre-built, customizable admin interface for managing application data.
Security Features – Django protects against SQL injection, XSS (cross-site scripting), and CSRF (cross-site request forgery).
Scalability – Can handle large amounts of traffic efficiently.
Third-Party Packages – A rich ecosystem of reusable apps and plugins via Django Packages.