Django Resources for Learning and Building Web Applications
Django is a free, open-source Python web framework for building database-driven websites and web applications. It provides an object-relational mapper (ORM), URL routing, templates, forms, authentication, an administrative interface, security protections, testing tools and other reusable components. This curated guide brings together Django documentation, tutorials, packages, code examples, videos, books, validators, development tools and debugging resources for beginners and experienced developers.
If you are new to Django, begin with the official getting-started tutorial, learn how projects and apps are organized, and build a small application before adding third-party packages. Experienced developers can use the sections below as a reference for package discovery, Pandas integration, testing, security and maintainable project structure.
Django includes an ORM for working with databases through Python objects, a template system for generating HTML, URL routing, middleware and built-in website security measures such as password hashing and cross-site request forgery protection. It supports databases including MySQL, PostgreSQL and SQLite.
Web frameworks provide established patterns and reusable tools so developers do not need to create every part of an application from scratch. Options include Rails for Ruby, Express for JavaScript, and Django or Flask for Python. Django was named after jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.
Organizations including Instagram, Mozilla and NASA have used Django in their web technology stacks. The framework is suitable for projects that benefit from Python, structured database models, rapid development and a mature ecosystem.

Django Resources
Django.How Development Guide and Resources
A practical collection of Django development guides and open-source starter projects. Use it to explore common application components and project patterns.
Getting Started: Django Documentation
Follow Django’s official introductory material to create a project and learn the framework’s fundamental concepts. If you are new to programming, begin with these Python resources before moving into Django.
Django Recommended Reading
A recommended-reading collection for developers who want to continue learning after completing an introductory Django project.
Best Free Django Resources and Tutorials
A collection of free learning materials, including Django Project documentation, tutorials, articles and video lessons.
Real Python: Bonus Django Resources
A downloadable guide to further Django tutorials and resources from Real Python for developers who want to deepen their Python and Django skills.
Top Five Resources for Learning Django
A short collection of Django learning recommendations, including Real Python and other resources for developing practical framework skills.
django-import-export Resource API
Technical documentation for defining resources and mapping Django models to import and export representations.
Get Started With django CMS
Start with django CMS, consult its developer documentation and user guide, find plugins, get support and learn how to contribute to the project.
Django Useful Resources
A directory of supplemental Django references for developers who want to explore the framework in greater depth.
Tastypie Resources Documentation
Documentation for defining Tastypie resources, mapping Django data to API representations and configuring resource behavior in a REST-style application.
Tastypie Resource Class Guide
A focused reference for Tastypie’s Resource and ModelResource classes, including fields, authorization, validation, filtering, caching and request handling.
Django Packages and Libraries
Reusable packages can add APIs, authentication, filtering, background tasks, content editing and other capabilities to a Django project. Before installing a package, confirm that it supports the Python and Django versions used by your application and review its documentation, dependencies, maintenance activity and license.
Django Packages
A directory of reusable Django applications, frameworks, tools and starter projects, with comparison grids for evaluating alternatives.
Top 20 Most-Used Django Packages and Libraries
An overview of frequently used packages and the development needs they address in Django applications.
Exploring Django’s Third-Party Packages
An introduction to third-party libraries that extend Django, reduce repetitive development work and add application features.
The 10 Most-Used Django Packages
A practical overview of widely adopted packages in the Django ecosystem and the roles they can serve in a web project.
Eight Python Packages That Simplify Django Development
A selection of Python packages intended to make common Django development tasks easier.
Top 12 Django Packages and Libraries
Covers packages and tools such as Django REST Framework, django-tenants, django-import-export, Celery, django-filter, Cookiecutter Django, Django Debug Toolbar, django-allauth and django-extensions.
Ten Commonly Used Django Packages
A concise guide to established third-party packages that support common requirements in modern Django projects.
Django Reusable Apps, Sites and Tools Directory
Browse package information and comparison data collected from sources such as PyPI and code-hosting platforms.
Ten Essential Django Packages for Developers
An overview of packages for common requirements, including Django REST Framework for building web APIs.
Six Python Packages for Django Web Applications
A selection of packages commonly considered when building and maintaining Django applications.
Django Pandas
Pandas can help Django applications transform query results, perform data analysis and prepare information for reports, exports, APIs and charts. Keep heavy data-processing work away from time-sensitive web requests when possible, and evaluate memory use carefully with large querysets.
django-pandas
The Python Package Index entry for django-pandas, a package that provides tools for working with pandas DataFrames in Django projects.
Display a django-pandas DataFrame in a Django Template
A community question and answers about preparing a pandas DataFrame for display through Django’s template system.
Django Course With Pandas and Matplotlib
A video course combining the Python web framework with pandas, Matplotlib and related development concepts.
How to Use Python Pandas in Django
A video tutorial demonstrating how to convert Django queryset data into a pandas DataFrame.
django-pandas on Django Packages
A package-directory overview of django-pandas with project metadata, repository links and related packages.
Django, Pandas and Chart.js for a Dashboard
A project-oriented article showing how Django, pandas and Chart.js can be combined to prepare and visualize dashboard data.
Converting Django Querysets to Pandas DataFrames
A guide to moving Django ORM query results into pandas for analysis and data transformation.
django-pandas Documentation
Documentation and examples for converting Django querysets into pandas DataFrames and using tools such as DataFrameManager.
Django REST Pandas
A package for serving pandas DataFrames through Django REST Framework, with potential uses in analytics APIs, exports and data visualizations.
Convert a Django Queryset to a Pandas DataFrame
A step-by-step tutorial covering the conversion of Django ORM querysets into pandas DataFrames for further manipulation.

Django Cheat Sheets
Cheat sheets are useful for recalling commands, model syntax, ORM operations, URL patterns, settings and template conventions. Use them as quick references, but consult the documentation for your installed Django version before relying on version-sensitive syntax or configuration.
Django Cheat Sheet on DEV Community
A beginner-oriented reference covering common Django concepts and commands.
Django ORM Cheatsheet: Mastering Database Operations
A reference for model definitions, queryset basics, object creation, updates and other database operations.
Django Cheat Sheet and Free Samples
A Django command and configuration reference accompanied by sample projects that help connect concepts with working code.
A Practical Django Cheat Sheet
A compact community-created Django reference intended for Python developers and beginners.
Django Cheat Sheet on GitHub
An open-source quick reference for creating web applications with Django and Python.
Django Cheat Sheet and Quick Reference
A downloadable reference covering database engine settings and other common Django configuration details.
QuickStart Django Cheat Sheet
A quick-reference guide to common Django concepts and commands for Python web development.
Advanced Django Cheat Sheet
A reference for experienced developers that collects more advanced Django patterns and reminders.
Django Security Cheat Sheet
OWASP guidance for configuring and hardening Django applications against common web security risks.
DevSheets Django Cheat Sheet
A concise reference covering project setup, models, views, URLs, templates and ORM usage.
Cheatography Django Cheat Sheet
A downloadable reference covering project setup, applications, views, templates and database interactions.
OWASP Django Security Reference
An authoritative checklist of security practices for configuring and deploying Django applications safely.
Django Validators
Django validators are callables that check a value and raise ValidationError when it is unacceptable. They can be attached to model and form fields, while additional validation can be implemented in form cleaning methods, model validation and API serializers.
Validators: Django Documentation
A reference for the callable validators available in django.core.validators for model and form fields.
Form and Field Validation
Official documentation explaining the stages of Django form validation, field cleaning and error handling.
Django Validators Reference
A stable documentation reference for built-in validators and their available options.
Django REST Framework Validators
Documentation for serializer validation in Django REST Framework, including uniqueness constraints and custom validators.
A Comprehensive Guide to Django Validators
An introductory explanation of validator functions and how they are used to accept or reject application data.
django.core.validators Source Reference
A source-code view of Django’s core validators, useful for understanding their underlying behavior.
How to Use Validators in Django
A practical discussion of attaching validators to model fields and understanding when model validation is executed.
Django 2.1 Validators
Archived validator documentation for developers maintaining applications built on an older Django release.
Django Form Validation
An overview of built-in validators, custom validation functions and form error handling.
Django Code Editors
Django does not require a particular editor. Choose one that provides strong Python support, code completion, formatting, linting, debugging, environment selection and template editing. A rich-text editor serves a different purpose: it allows application users or administrators to format stored content through a browser interface.
CoderPad Django Online IDE
An online Django coding environment designed primarily for technical interviews and collaborative exercises.
Django IDEs and Code Editors
A comparison of development environments and editors that can be used for Python and Django projects.
Django Online Compiler and Editor
A browser-based environment for experimenting with Django examples and viewing results online.
Django WYSIWYG Rich-Text Editor
Information about integrating a browser-based rich-text editing component into a Django application.
Choosing a Code Editor: Django Girls
Beginner-friendly guidance for selecting and configuring a code editor before working through a Django tutorial.
django-content-editor
Documentation for editing structured content through Django’s administrative interface.
Integrating a Rich-Text Editor With Django
A tutorial explaining how to connect rich-text editing functionality to a Django application.
WYSIWYG Editors for the Django Admin
A comparison of rich-text editors with integration options for Django’s administration interface.
Help Choosing a Text Editor for Django
A Django community discussion about choosing and integrating a WYSIWYG editor such as TinyMCE or CKEditor. Developers unfamiliar with browser-server interactions may also benefit from this guide to how the Internet works.

Django Tutorials
The most effective learning sequence is to complete an introductory project, study models and the ORM, work with forms and authentication, write tests, and then practice deployment. Use documentation that matches the Django version installed in your environment.
Django Tutorial: W3Schools
A beginner tutorial covering installation, project creation, data, templates and querysets.
Django Tutorials: Real Python
Intermediate and advanced tutorials about testing, APIs, deployment, caching and Django development practices.
Getting Started With Django
The official starting point for new developers, covering installation, project creation, models, the admin interface, views, templates, forms, testing and static files.
LearnDjango.com
Step-by-step tutorials and courses focused on building, testing and deploying web applications with Django.
Introduction to Django: MDN
An accessible introduction to Django’s architecture, capabilities and place in server-side web development.
Django Community Tutorials
A Django project wiki page linking to general lessons, screencasts and community learning materials.
How to Learn Django
A suggested learning path that connects Python fundamentals, web concepts and Django’s official tutorial.
Django Tutorial: GeeksforGeeks
A broad tutorial covering Django concepts and the development of Python-based web applications.
Django Tutorial: TutorialsPoint
A structured introduction to building and maintaining web applications with Django.
Practical Django Tutorial
A sequence of practical lessons for learning Django from the beginning through real-world examples.
Django Videos
Python Django Tutorial for Beginners
A beginner-focused video introduction to Django and back-end web development.
Python Django Web Framework: Full Course
A full-length course introducing Django as a server-side Python web framework.
Python Django Seven-Hour Course
A project-based course that demonstrates Django concepts by building a community-style web application.
Django for Beginners: Full Tutorial
A complete beginner course covering important concepts used when creating Django applications.
Python Django Explained in Eight Minutes
A concise video introduction to important Django concepts for viewers who want a quick overview before beginning a longer tutorial.
Python Django Tutorial Playlist
A playlist addressing Django workflow, project structure, recommended practices and common development pitfalls.
What Is Django? A Beginner Tutorial
A beginner-friendly explanation of using Django to create full-stack web applications with Python.
Corey Schafer’s Django Tutorials
A multi-part video series that walks through foundational Django development.
How to Learn Django
A written learning guide accompanied by a DjangoCon presentation about understanding Django’s interconnected parts.
Introduction to Django Video Course
A multi-hour instructional course covering the Django web framework and application development.
Django E-books and PDF
Books can provide a more connected explanation than individual tutorials, but Django evolves over time. Check which Django and Python versions a book covers, especially before copying installation steps, settings or security-sensitive code from an older publication.
Learning Django eBook
A downloadable collection of Django examples and topic explanations.
The Django Book
A community-edition Django book covering an older release. It can offer historical context, but code and configuration should be checked against current documentation.
Django: The Easy Way
A step-by-step guide to building websites with the Python-based Django framework.
Django Documentation PDF
A downloadable edition of the stable Django documentation covering core features, configuration and advanced topics.
Building APIs With Django and Django REST Framework
A project-based guide that demonstrates API development through a basic polling application.
The Definitive Guide to Django
A book-length introduction to Django development available through Springer.
Web Development With Django, Second Edition
A book covering Django functionality and the Model-View-Template approach to web development.
Django 4 By Example, Fourth Edition
Antonio Melé’s project-based guide to developing applications with Django 4.
Free Django Books
A directory of freely available books related to Django web development.

Django Code Samples
Code samples are most valuable when you run them locally, inspect how the components interact and adapt them rather than copying them blindly. Review dependencies, security settings and version compatibility before using example code in a production project.
Writing Your First Django App
The first part of Django’s official tutorial explains how to create a project, run the development server, create an app and define an initial view and URL configuration.
Django Tutorial in Visual Studio Code
A practical Microsoft tutorial for creating and running a Django application in Visual Studio Code.
Interactive Django Tutorial
A beginner tutorial with editable examples for exploring server-side Django concepts.
Lightweight Django Code Examples
A GitHub repository containing chapter-based example code associated with the Lightweight Django book.
Django Web Framework Module
An MDN learning module covering environment setup and the development of web applications with Django.
Django Resources From Full Stack Python
A collection of explanations, open-source example projects and references for developers working with Django.
Django Projects With Source Code
A collection of beginner, intermediate and advanced project ideas accompanied by code examples.
Django Project Ideas and Source Code
Examples include authentication systems, calculators, converters, tracking applications and chat projects.
Django Projects for Beginners
A collection of approachable project ideas for practicing Django models, views, templates and application structure.
Django Testing and Debugging
A reliable Django testing strategy covers models, views, forms, permissions, APIs and important user workflows. Debugging tools can reveal request details and performance problems during development, but debug mode and diagnostic panels should never be exposed publicly in production.
Official Django Testing Documentation
The official guide to testing Django applications with the built-in test framework, including test cases, test databases, request clients and utilities.
pytest-django
A pytest plugin for Django projects that supplies fixtures, database controls and configuration options for a flexible testing workflow.
Django Debug Toolbar
A configurable set of panels that displays request and response diagnostics, including SQL queries, cache activity and template-rendering information during development.
Coverage.py
A tool for measuring which Python code runs during a test suite. It can be used with Django’s test runner or pytest-django to identify important code paths that lack test coverage.
Testing Python Code With pytest
A practical Real Python course explaining how to write and run tests with pytest.
LearnDjango Testing Tutorial
A hands-on tutorial covering Django TestCase usage, running tests and organizing a maintainable test suite.
Django Testing Tools
Official documentation for the test client, test-case classes and supporting utilities built into Django.
pytest-django Documentation
Detailed documentation for configuring pytest-django, managing test databases and using Django-aware fixtures.
Debugging a Django Application
An introduction to common debugging techniques, including development tools and strategies for locating problems in views and templates.
Writing Effective Django Tests
A practical guide to creating tests that help keep a Django application reliable and maintainable.
Popular Websites Associated With Django
Django has been associated with many recognizable websites and technology organizations, whether as a current framework or as part of their development history. Large services rarely disclose every component in their stack, and implementations can change, so consult each organization’s current engineering information when a technology choice depends on it.
Django Frequently Asked Questions
What is Django used for?
Django is used to build database-driven websites, content platforms, dashboards, internal tools, APIs and other server-side web applications with Python. Its built-in ORM, routing, templates, forms, authentication, administration and security features reduce the amount of foundational code a team must write.
Is Django suitable for beginners?
Yes, particularly for learners who already understand basic Python and web concepts. Beginners should start with the official Django tutorial, learn the project-and-app structure, and build a small application before adopting many third-party packages.
What should I learn before Django?
A working knowledge of Python is the most important prerequisite. Basic familiarity with HTML, HTTP requests and responses, URLs, forms, relational databases and command-line tools will also make Django’s conventions easier to understand.
Does Django include a database?
Django does not replace a database. Its ORM provides a Python interface for defining models and querying supported databases. SQLite is convenient for learning and local development, while projects can also be configured for database systems such as PostgreSQL or MySQL.
Can Django be used to build APIs?
Yes. Django can return JSON responses directly, and packages such as Django REST Framework and Tastypie provide additional tools for serializers, authentication, permissions, validation and API routing.
How should I choose a Django package?
Confirm that the package solves a real project requirement, supports your Django and Python versions, has clear documentation and licensing, and shows signs of responsible maintenance. Review its dependencies and security implications, then test it in a development environment before introducing it to a production application.
What is the best way to test and debug a Django application?
Write focused tests for models, views, forms, permissions and important user workflows. Django’s built-in test tools or pytest-django can run the suite, Coverage.py can reveal untested code paths, and Django Debug Toolbar can help inspect requests and database queries during development. Debug features and diagnostic toolbars should not be exposed in production.
Author Bio: Betsy Trauger
A freelance web developer with experience using RSH Web Services for web projects. Betsy focuses on practical development details and the effective use of third-party software.
We would love to hear from you. Share your experience or ask any questions in the comments below and we will be happy to help.
Add Comment
This policy contains information about your privacy. By posting, you are declaring that you understand this policy:
- Your name, rating, website address, town, country, state and comment will be publicly displayed if entered.
- Aside from the data entered into these form fields, other stored data about your comment will include:
- Your IP address (not displayed)
- The time/date of your submission (displayed)
- Your email address will not be shared. It is collected for only two reasons:
- Administrative purposes, should a need to contact you arise.
- To inform you of new comments, should you subscribe to receive notifications.
- A cookie may be set on your computer. This is used to remember your inputs. It will expire by itself.
This policy is subject to change at any time and without notice.
These terms and conditions contain rules about posting comments. By submitting a comment, you agree with these rules:
- Although the administrator will attempt to moderate comments, not all comments can be moderated at all times.
- You acknowledge that all comments express the opinions of the original author and not those of the administrator.
- You will not post material which is knowingly false, obscene, hateful, threatening, harassing or invasive of privacy.
- The administrator has the right to edit, move or remove any comment for any reason and without notice.
Failure to comply with these rules may result in being banned from submitting further comments.
These terms and conditions are subject to change at any time and without notice.
Tweet Share Pin Email
How the Internet Works
How IP Addresses
How Wi-Fi Works
Node.js Resources
Comments