Django
Original authorsAdrian Holovaty, Simon Willison
DeveloperDjango Software Foundation[1]
Initial release21 July 2005 (2005-07-21)[2]
Stable release
short-term support release6.0[3]  / 3 December 2025 (3 December 2025)
long-term support release5.2.9 LTS[4]  / 2 December 2025 (2 December 2025)
Written inPython[1]
TypeWeb framework[1]
License3-clause BSD[5]
Websitewww.djangoproject.com 
Repository

Django (/ˈdʒæŋɡoʊ/ JANG-goh; sometimes stylized as django)[6] is a free and open-source, Python-based web framework that runs on a web server. It follows the model–template–views (MTV) architectural pattern.[7][8] It is maintained by the Django Software Foundation (DSF), an independent organization established in the US as a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

Django's primary goal is to ease the creation of complex, database-driven websites. The framework emphasizes reusability and "pluggability" of components, less code, low coupling, rapid development, and the principle of don't repeat yourself.[9] Python is used throughout, even for settings, files, and data models. Django also provides an optional administrative create, read, update and delete interface that is generated dynamically through introspection and configured via admin models.

Some well-known sites that use Django include Instagram,[10] Mozilla,[11] Disqus,[12] Bitbucket,[13] Nextdoor,[14] and Clubhouse.[15]

History

Django was created in the autumn of 2003, when the web programmers at the Lawrence Journal-World newspaper, Adrian Holovaty and Simon Willison, began using Python to build applications. Jacob Kaplan-Moss was hired early in Django's development shortly before Willison's internship ended.[16] It was released publicly under a BSD license in July 2005. The framework was named after guitarist Django Reinhardt.[17] Holovaty is a romani jazz guitar player inspired in part by Reinhardt's music.[18]

In June 2008, it was announced that a newly formed Django Software Foundation (DSF) would maintain Django in the future.[19]

Features

Components

Despite having its own nomenclature, such as naming the callable objects generating the HTTP responses "views",[7] the core Django framework can be seen as an MVC architecture.[8] It consists of an object-relational mapper (ORM) that mediates between data models (defined as Python classes) and a relational database ("Model"), a system for processing HTTP requests with a web templating system ("View"), and a regular-expression-based URL dispatcher ("Controller").

Also included in the core framework are:

Bundled applications

The main Django distribution also bundles a number of applications in its "contrib" package, including:

Extensibility

Django's configuration system allows third-party code to be plugged into a regular project, provided that it follows the reusable app[22] conventions. More than 5000 packages[23] are available to extend the framework's original behavior, providing solutions to issues the original tool didn't tackle: registration, search, API provision and consumption, CMS, etc.

This extensibility is, however, mitigated by internal components' dependencies. While the Django philosophy implies loose coupling,[24] the template filters and tags assume one engine implementation, and both the auth and admin bundled applications require the use of the internal ORM. None of these filters or bundled apps are mandatory to run a Django project, but reusable apps tend to depend on them, encouraging developers to keep using the official stack in order to benefit fully from the apps ecosystem.[25]

Server arrangements

Django can be run on ASGI or WSGI-compliant web servers.[26] Django officially supports five database backends: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, and Oracle.[27] Microsoft SQL Server can be used with mssql-django.

Version history

The Django team will occasionally designate certain releases to be "long-term support" (LTS) releases.[28] LTS releases will get security and data loss fixes applied for a guaranteed period of time, typically 3+ years, regardless of the pace of releases afterwards.

Version Release date[29] End of mainstream support End of extended support Notes[30]
Unsupported: 0.90[31] 16 Nov 2005
Unsupported: 0.91[32] 11 Jan 2006 "new-admin"
Unsupported: 0.95[33] 29 Jul 2006 "magic removal"
Unsupported: 0.96[34] 23 Mar 2007 "newforms", testing tools
Unsupported: 1.0[35] 3 Sep 2008 API stability, decoupled admin, unicode
Unsupported: 1.1[36] 29 Jul 2009 Aggregates, transaction based tests
Unsupported: 1.2[37] 17 May 2010 Multiple db connections, CSRF, model validation
Unsupported: 1.3[38] 23 Mar 2011 23 Mar 2012 26 Feb 2013 Class based views, staticfiles
Unsupported: 1.4 LTS[39] 23 Mar 2012 26 Feb 2013 1 Oct 2015 Time zones, in browser testing, app templates.
Unsupported: 1.5[40] 26 Feb 2013 6 Nov 2013 2 Sep 2014 Python 3 Support, configurable user model
Unsupported: 1.6[41] 6 Nov 2013 2 Sep 2014 1 Apr 2015 Dedicated to Malcolm Tredinnick, db transaction management, connection pooling.
Unsupported: 1.7[42] 2 Sep 2014 1 Apr 2015 1 Dec 2015 Migrations, application loading and configuration.
Unsupported: 1.8 LTS[43] 1 Apr 2015 1 Dec 2015 1 Apr 2018 Native support for multiple template engines. Support ended on 1 April 2018
Unsupported: 1.9[44] 1 Dec 2015 1 Aug 2016 4 Apr 2017 Automatic password validation. New styling for admin interface.
Unsupported: 1.10[45] 1 Aug 2016 4 Apr 2017 2 Dec 2017 Full text search for PostgreSQL. New-style middleware.
Unsupported: 1.11 LTS[46] 4 Apr 2017 2 Dec 2017 1 Apr 2020 Last version to support Python 2.7. Support ended on 1 April 2020
Unsupported: 2.0[47] 2 Dec 2017 1 Aug 2018 1 Apr 2019 First Python 3-only release, Simplified URL routing syntax, Mobile friendly admin.
Unsupported: 2.1[48] 1 Aug 2018 1 Apr 2019 2 Dec 2019 Model "view" permission.
Unsupported: 2.2 LTS[49] 1 Apr 2019 2 Dec 2019 11 Apr 2022 Security release.
Unsupported: 3.0[50] 2 Dec 2019 3 Aug 2020 6 Apr 2020 ASGI support
Unsupported: 3.1[51] 4 Aug 2020 6 Apr 2020 7 Dec 2021 Asynchronous views and middleware
Unsupported: 3.2 LTS[52] 6 Apr 2021 7 Dec 2021 April 2024 Tracking many to many relationships, added support for Python 3.11
Unsupported: 4.0[53] 7 Dec 2021 3 Aug 2022 April 2023 Support for pytz is now deprecated and will be removed in Django 5.0.
Unsupported: 4.1[54] 3 Aug 2022 April 2023 December 2023 Asynchronous ORM interface, CSRF_COOKIE_MASKED setting, outputting a form, like {{ form }}
Supported: 4.2 LTS[55] 3 Apr 2023 4 Dec 2023 Apr 2026 Psycopg 3 support, ENGINE as django.db.backends.postgresql supports both libraries.
Unsupported: 5.0[56] 4 Dec 2023 7 Aug 2024 2 Apr 2025 Facet filters in the admin, Simplified templates for form field rendering
Supported: 5.1[57] 7 Aug 2024 2 Apr 2025 Dec 2025 Added support for Python 3.13. Added support for PostgreSQL connection pools.
Supported: 5.2 LTS[58] 2 Apr 2025 Dec 2025 Apr 2028 Automatic model import in shell, support for composite primary keys
Latest version: 6.0[59][60] 3 Dec 2025 August 2026 April 2027
Legend:UnsupportedSupportedLatest versionPreview versionFuture version

Community

DjangoCon

There is a semiannual conference for Django developers and users, named "DjangoCon", that has been held since September 2008. DjangoCon is held annually in Europe, in May or June;[61] while another is held in the United States in August or September, in various cities.[62]

United States

The 2012 DjangoCon took place in Washington, D.C., from September 3 to 8.

2013 DjangoCon was held in Chicago at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and the post-conference Sprints were hosted at Digital Bootcamp, computer training center.[63]

The 2014 DjangoCon US returned to Portland, OR from August 30 to 6 September.

The 2015 DjangoCon US was held in Austin, TX from September 6 to 11 at the AT&T Executive Center.

The 2016 DjangoCon US was held in Philadelphia, PA at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania from July 17 to 22.[64]

The 2017 DjangoCon US was held in Spokane, WA;[65] in 2018 DjangoCon US was held in San Diego, CA.[66] DjangoCon US 2019 was held again in San Diego, CA from September 22 to 27.

DjangoCon 2021 took place virtually and in 2022, DjangoCon US returned to San Diego from October 16 to 21. DjangoCon US 2023 was held from October 16 to 20 at the Durham, NC convention center and DjangoCon US 2024 took place also in Durham in September 22 to 27.[67][68]

DjangoCon US 2025 was held from September 8 to 12 in Chicago, Illinois.[69]

Europe

The 2025 edition of DjangoCon Europe took place in Dublin, Ireland from 23 to 27 April.[70]

In 2024, the conference was hosted in Vigo, Spain.[71]

Edinburgh, Scotland served as the venue for DjangoCon Europe in 2023.[72]

The 2022 conference was organized in Porto, Portugal.[73]

In 2021, DjangoCon Europe was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[74]

The 2020 edition was also conducted as a fully virtual event.[75]

DjangoCon Europe 2019 was held in Copenhagen, Denmark.[76]

In 2018, the event took place in Heidelberg, Germany.[77]

The 2017 conference was convened in Florence, Italy.[78]

DjangoCon Europe 2012 was organized in Zurich, Switzerland.[79]

Australia

Django mini-conferences are usually held every year as part of the Australian Python Conference 'PyCon AU'.[80] Previously, these mini-conferences have been held in:

Africa

The first DjangoCon Africa was held in Zanzibar, Tanzania, from 6 to 11 November 2023.[81] The event hosted approximately 200 attendees from 22 countries, including 103 women. The conference featured 26 talks on topics such as software development, education, careers, accessibility, and agriculture, often highlighting perspectives from across the African continent. Future editions of the conference are planned, with details available on the official website

Community groups & programs

Django has spawned user groups and meetups around the world, a notable group is the Django Girls organization, which began in Poland but now has had events in 91 countries.[82][83][84]

Another initiative is Djangonaut Space,[85] a mentorship program aimed at supporting new contributors to the Django ecosystem. The program pairs experienced mentors with developers to guide them through making meaningful contributions to Django and its community. It emphasizes long-term engagement, inclusion, and collaborative open-source development.

Ports to other languages

Programmers have ported Django's template engine design from Python to other languages, providing decent cross-platform support. Some of these options are more direct ports; others, though inspired by Django and retaining its concepts, take the liberty to deviate from Django's design:

CMSs based on Django Framework

Django as a framework is capable of building a complete CMS. Some dedicated CMS projects are based upon Django:

See also

References

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Bibliography

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Django (web framework).