Django vs React – What’s the Difference (Pros and Cons)
Django vs React – What’s the Difference (Pros and Cons). In this post, we introduce both technologies and after explain the key differences of each.
Frameworks are considered software libraries that offer a set of functions, classes, and routines for building software applications. Surely, a framework is used to structure the code, reuse code from other projects, and provide a common set of function libraries.
If you are considering Django and ReactJs for building your next web project, but you are still undecided on which is best, this post provides you with the pros and cons of each framework.
Since, both frameworks are used to ease the web development process and write codes faster. Also, Django and React JS are excellent frameworks to learn, but it is important to understand the pros and cons of each one in order to make an educated decision about which one would suit your needs as a developer better.
Shall we start with Django vs React – What’s the Difference (Pros and Cons).
What is Django?
Image Source: kanhasoft
Firstly, Django is a free and open source Python web framework that follows the model view template (MVT) architectural pattern and is maintained by the Django Software Foundation.
Adrian Holovaty and Simon Willison introduced the framework to help developers design and build complex database driven websites and web applications. The enhancements supported by the framework contribute to a quicker and more efficient web development process.
Well, Python is a very powerful programming language, and using Django, is the framework built for web development in Python. Developers also inherit a huge number of features, backed up with Pythons safety.
It has a ready to use user interface and built in features like object relational mapping (ORM) that help in developing web applications faster. Further, the framework supports integration and offers end to end application testing.
In comparison to other frameworks, Django has a custom admin panel and involves less use of codes. If you have a large enterprise, it is best to choose Django over others for it is fast, scalable, great for standardized processes, and supports login and authentication systems. Also, it offers documentation for further guidance.
When comparing to React, Django is a framework, meaning you have got everything in one place. Developers generally do not want to have to build everything from the ground up on the React library, so Django’s framework admin offers an easy, ready to use look.
Moreover, Django offers modules that developers use for building websites and applications directly from existing resources, with no need for code writing from scratch. Developers use Django’s modules for building applications and websites straight from existing sources.
Key Features of Django
- Django framework is flexible and supports working on multiple platforms.
- The framework is compatible with numerous formats, including HTML, XML, JSON, etc.
- Developers easily retain and reuse codes.
- The Python based open source framework is scalable, portable, fast, and lightweight.
- Easy to learn and can be easily used for small projects.
- Supports numerous features that help in handling loads without crashing.
- Aids developers in running the quick web development process.
- The framework is highly secure and supports an authentication system.
- Supports numerous databases as well as operating systems.
Pros of Django
- Django is quick to install and can run operations faster.
- The administrative features have an intuitive user interface.
- Create and build multilingual websites using its in built internationalization system.
- Assists in developing dynamic HTML pages.
- Integrated unit testing system and a fully featured administration interface.
- Offers low cost for hosting services and manual maintenance.
- Highly secure and supports policies for throttling and permissions.
- Unlike other frameworks, Django provides support for foundational technologies, templates, tools, and plugins
- Customizable and helps developers in defining models for the Application URLs.
Cons of Django
- Django follows a monolithic working style that can complicate things.
- Auto reload feature that can restart your entire server.
- The Django framework allows only one request at a time.
- Errors in the template default to silent failure.
- Experience and basic knowledge are necessary before using this framework.
- The high end framework has various functions, thus making it not a great option for simple projects.
- Django serves a very large codebase size and it may get more complication for it uses URL dispatching through controller regex.
- The supporting documentation does not address real world scenarios.
What is React?
Image Source: wikimedia
React, initially developed and still maintained by Facebook, and supported by a vibrant open source community, is a library for JS. Originally built by Facebook, React.js is an open source, component based framework that is responsible for building the applications view layer.
Also allows for fast and efficient app building, saving both clients’ and developers’ time. The component based approach, clearly defined lifecycle, and the usage of only plain JavaScript make React super easy to pick up, create professional looking web (and mobile) applications, and maintain.
Developers who know JavaScript can pick up ReactJS quickly since it relies on just plain JavaScript and a component based approach. This invaluable tool for web developers is a JavaScript library specialized to assist developers with creating user interfaces, or UIs.
We have also established that React libraries act as the front end (client side framework), handling UI, and making data requests to the back end of the Django framework. With React.js is a library, meaning that you have to use another library for database, server side templating, etc.
Key Features of React
- Virtual DOM offers more flexibility and allows developers to build applications faster.
- React JS supports a on way data binding feature that ensures data flows in a single direction.
- Developers control several conditional statements inside the JSX easily via React.
- Offers better control over the application development process.
- Developers reuse files instead of writing large files or dense codes.
- Various extensions for application architecture are supported by React.
- React JS is flexible, scalable, and easy to use.
- Vibrant community and reliable tools that aid in the development process.
- The JSX feature enables users to write HTML structures in the same file.
Pros of React
- React.js builds a custom virtual DOM that helps enhance the performance of apps. A JavaScript virtual DOM is quicker than a conventional DOM.
- Component and Data patterns supported by the framework aid in improving readability, great for large apps.
- ReactJS is SEO friendly, offers several helpful developer toolsets, and has a strong community.
- Notable features include the acceptance of HTML code and the facilitation of sub component rendering.
- Compatible with other frameworks and has the ability to update UI faster than other libraries.
- Awesome UI may be created with ReactJS.
- Allows redistributing similar digital objects that help boost productivity.
- Easy to learn and helps developers to complete projects faster.
Cons of React
- Does not offer enough documentation for guidance.
- React cannot be used to construct an entire app.
- Not a good option for a larger project or one that has many components.
- Do not support server side rendering.
- It is not great in terms of deployment and scaling for it does not offer many features.
Now with this article blog Django vs React – What’s the Difference we compare both solutions.
Django vs React - Key Differences
Image Source: plainenglish
Since, both React and Python Django are popular web frameworks used for developing scalable, and maintainable web applications. Well, using Django as the backend framework and React.js as a frontend framework is a popular approach to web development.
Here are a few differences between Django and React that will make it easier for you to choose between the two.
Django vs React - Framework
On one side, Django is a flexible open source web framework with various enhanced features. It supports batteries included approach as well. This web framework works great for large projects and complex websites.
On the other, React is a fast, flexible, and lightweight framework with fewer features and supports a component based approach. The python web framework works best for simple and small projects.
Django vs React - Working Style
Identically, Django supports underlying technologies, templates, tools, and plugins while adhering to an object oriented methodology. Additionally, it supports object relational mapping and a monolithic working style. Works best for applications that are complex in nature and include multiple pages.
Oppositely, React follows just plain JavaScript and a component based approach to build applications view layer. Ideally, works best for simple project and helps control component instances.
Django vs React - Database Support
Furthermore, Django framework is compatible with relational database management systems, such as MySQL, Oracle, etc.
Django vs React - Flexibility
Fourthly, Django framework is flexible and supports working on multiple platforms, but making alterations to the module is difficult. It is a bit difficult to learn compared to other framework.
The JavaScript library is flexible and uses reliable tools that aid in development process. Evidently, quite easy to learn and run.
Django vs React - Control
The Django framework does not offer full control over the functions as they have in built libraries. It does not offer API support.
Evidently, React offers better control over application development process and conditional statements inside the JSX. It allows integrating APIs.
Django vs React - Community Support
Equally, Django framework offers a strong support community and proper documentation. Instagram, Udemy, and Coursera are a few companies that trust Django.
Similarly, React has an extensive support community but lacks documentation. Airbnb, Netflix, Yahoo, and Dropbox are a few companies that trust React.
Thank you for reading Django vs React – What’s the Difference (Pros and Cons). We shall conclude this article now.
Django vs React - What's the Difference (Pros and Cons) Conclusion
Summing up, both frameworks- Django and ReactJs are two open source web frameworks that offer excellent features and are used to develop web applications using Python and JavaScript, respectively. Django is a framework for developing websites, and React.js is a JavaScript library.
Lastly, React (also known as React.js or ReactJS) is an open source, front end, JavaScript library used to build user interfaces or UI components.
Whereas, Django is a high level web framework for Python, which allows developers to leverage modules to speed up development. Django is a high level Python web framework that has many built in features that help to quickly develop large scale web applications.
Should you want to read more about navigate to this section of our blog.
