Django vs Laravel: A Complete Guide and Comparison 2023

Web applications are used in various fields: business, education, media, entertainment, etc. Such digital solutions allow us to quickly and conveniently access information, communicate with others, purchase goods and services, and much more.

• According to Emergen Research, the global web application market volume was $1.13 billion in 2019. It is expected to reach $10.44 billion by 2027, with an average annual growth rate of 31.9%.

There are numerous tools for development, among which frameworks play a crucial role: React, Angular, WordPress, Vue.js, etc. They facilitate and expedite the process of creating IT products while enhancing their security.

That’s precisely why web developers actively utilize frameworks worldwide to implement intuitive, interactive, and functional web projects.

In this article, we will explore two frameworks – Django and Laravel – which are among the most popular for backend development and conduct a detailed comparison.

What Are Web Frameworks?

A framework is a software environment that helps developers quickly create digital products: websites, applications, online stores, and CMS systems.

For a better understanding, we suggest to consider the following example. Imagine that you have decided to build a remote-controlled toy car. There are several ways:

1. Build from scratch, starting from the ground up: create all the components manually or using machinery, delve into electronics and wiring, and paint everything. This way, you can oversee the entire process, but it will require a significant amount of time.
2. Assemble from ready-made kits: the body parts, engine, and electronics will come as modules that must be carefully selected and connected. If desired, you can manually adjust any module, but it’s not necessary – everything will work right “out of the box.”

Framework is the same ready-made set, only for the developer. It saves the time and effort of a specialist, which would have been spent on creating basic things and fixing simple errors.

Types of Frameworks: Frontend and Backend

Frameworks can differ in size and task types. There are multifunctional ones – for versatile projects and microframeworks – for solving specific product tasks.

In terms of tasks, frameworks are divided into the following categories:

• Backend. Responsible for the app’s functionality. Rules and architecture enable the creation of simple pages and forms, generating output data and providing protection against attacks.
• Frontend. Responsible for the project’s visual appearance and are not linked to the operational logic. They allow enhancing and adding new user interfaces, creating single-page applications, animations, and more.

Why Use Web Frameworks?

Frameworks are suitable for creating both large projects and simple sites and apps planned to be developed in the future. 

Their main task is to help build business logic and organize workflows correctly. Commercial projects often use uncomplicated frameworks because, on their basis, you can make, for example, an online store with a payment system, various calculators, and your own CRM. 

The high performance and flexibility of frameworks allow you to get a high-quality framework for a future product without losing functionality. This is an excellent solution for the quick realization of almost any idea.

Frameworks enable you to:

• Accelerate development speed. By reusing ready-made modules, the environment reduces the time for releasing new features and developing services/apps. If starting from scratch, the time spent would be colossal.
• Simplify work. A programmer can understand any project built on a framework basis if they have previously worked with it or a similar one.
• Ensure security. Frameworks are protected and tested. The most common vulnerabilities or ways of obtaining confidential data—such as SQL injections, XSS attacks, SSRF, and brute force—are considered and do not pose threats. In terms of security level, frameworks outperform custom solutions and help safeguard apps from intrusion.

Django vs Laravel: Overview

Laravel and Django are popular solutions for web application development.  

• According to SimilarTech, there are 136,613 websites based on the Laravel framework and 83,987 on Django, and these figures are constantly changing.

They have powerful backend functionality, routing systems, ORM systems, administration, and a wide community. Laravel also has a lot of third-party services for building the front end and a library of apps constantly being developed and maintained by the creators. Before we compare them, let’s talk about some of the features of these software platforms.

What Is Django?

Django is a free high-level web framework with open-source code written in Python. It was released in 2005 and developed by the Django Software Foundation.

This framework follows the MVT architecture for rapid web development. It comes with built-in support for the SQLite database. The main goal of Django is to provide a fast development environment that helps developers create applications in shorter timeframes.

Features of Django

• Excellent Documentation

This is one of the standout features of Django that motivates people to learn it. It offers better documentation compared to other available technologies. As a result, users can easily find solutions to their problems, making it easier to utilize the technology.

• SEO Promotion Opportunities

SEO, or search engine optimization, is a unique feature of Django. It aids in adding web pages to top search results. Search engines like Google use certain algorithms that can sometimes be challenging for developers to collaborate with.

Django supports websites through URL addresses rather than IP addresses on the server. This reduces a developer’s headache by eliminating the need to translate URLs into numeric codes.

• High Scalability

Django is used worldwide and is implemented without errors. Scalability determines at what level the technology is realized. For instance, Instagram, one of the leading social networks, used Django. Instagram has millions of users and generates massive amounts of data. Django provides a system capable of handling complex data without any system failures.

• Enhanced Security

Django is gaining popularity due to its security features. It closes gaps that might not have been automatically addressed in other frameworks. Many websites use Django and generate significant traffic, which attests to its robust security.

• Rapid Development

A programmer doesn’t necessarily need to understand the server-side details to build a fully functional website. Django offers a built-in admin panel, eliminating the need to create one from scratch. It also provides built-in SQLite support, reducing the need to write typical SQL queries. Instead, Django models can be used.

Choose Django When:

• You need to create dynamic applications.
• You aim to quickly launch a project.
• Security is a priority.
• You need an application that works across all operating systems.
• You need to promptly find a ready solution.

Who Uses Django?

• Instagram
• Disqus
• Mozilla
• The Washington Times
• Pinterest
• Bitbucket
• YouTube
• Google, and more.

What Is Laravel?

Laravel is an open-source PHP framework that handles server-side processes such as HTML authentication, templates, routing, and more.

It was developed by Taylor Otwell and is based on Symfony, which provides reusable PHP components/libraries. Laravel offers the ability to develop a fully functional website with customizable server logic.

Laravel Features

• Ready-to-Use Tools

It provides ready-to-use packages for user authentication and offers tools for common tasks like routing, HTML rendering, and API testing.

• Template Engine

Laravel is renowned for its built-in lightweight templates, which are highly useful for creating attractive, dynamic layouts. It offers several widgets, JS and CSS code, and a robust structure.

• MVC Architecture Support

Laravel follows the MVC (Model View Controller) architecture, which separates business logic from presentation layers. The Laravel MVC template comes with numerous built-in methods that enhance application performance and security.

• Security

The Laravel framework offers a high level of security. It employs hashing mechanisms and salted passwords, ensuring that passwords are stored as hashes in the database. 

Choose Laravel When:

• You need a quick project launch.
• High performance is essential.
• You require easy unit testing and solution scalability.
• Data protection from SQL injections is necessary.

Who Uses Laravel?

• Swat.io
• Wikipedia
• UNION
• BBC
• Lenovo
• Rozerpay
• Packet
• 9GAG, etc.

Django vs Laravel: An In-Depth Comparison

We suggest comparing these two popular technologies based on the following criteria:

• Programming Language

Django is developed in Python. It is a language with an emphasis on readability and simplicity of code, making the framework easy to understand and write.

Laravel is developed in PHP. It is a language widely used in web development. The framework incorporates many modern PHP approaches and structures, making it a powerful tool.

• Productivity and Development Speed

Django provides many out-of-the-box features like authentication, admin panel, and ORM. This can speed up initial development. However, some custom features require more customization.

Laravel also provides a wide range of tools, such as Eloquent ORM, routing, and built-in features. With its modern architecture, Laravel can provide good development speed.

• Administration Panel

Django has a powerful and customizable admin panel that allows you to manage your app data.

Laravel also provides an administrative panel, but it may require more customization than Django.

• Ecosystem and Extensibility

Django boasts many additional packages and libraries but can be less modular than Laravel.

Laravel has an extensive ecosystem with packages, extensions, and tools for front-end development. It offers a more modular approach.

• Community and Documentation

Django has an active community and comprehensive documentation, making problem-solving and learning easier.

Laravel also has an active community and well-structured documentation.

• Laravel vs Django: Performance

When properly optimized and scaled, Django can be suitable for complex projects, but some compare its performance to Laravel.

Laravel is also capable of serving complex projects. Performance depends on proper architecture and optimization.

Django vs Laravel: Similarities

Both environments are used for web application development and have large communities. In addition, both are full-featured frameworks that support cross-platform approach and high adaptability. 

Laravel and Django give you all the tools you need to develop secure and reliable applications. A streamlined migration system and properly integrated unit testing support provide solutions for building web products of any scale.

Django vs Laravel: Differences

Parameter	Django	Laravel
Programming Language	Written in Python	Written in PHP
Learning Curve	User-friendly for developers and easy to grasp even for beginners	Has a steep learning curve with numerous exceptions and code complexities
Architecture	Supports MVT model	Operates with the MVC model
Security	Implements robust security measures	Provides fundamental security interface
API	Doesn’t have built-in API support	Comes with built-in API support
Frontend Support	Tying with frontend JS infrastructure can be quite challenging	Supports Vue.JS

Django vs Laravel: Which Framework Is Better for Web Development?

It is difficult to definitively say which of the frameworks we’ve discussed is better. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages that need to be considered. Django is recommended for high-traffic apps and projects that require scalability. Laravel is a great fit for medium-sized projects with the ability to customize additional features.

Therefore, in this matter, it’s advisable to base your decision on the specific characteristics of your business and the goals you aim to achieve in developing your digital product.

Summary

Django is a free and open-source web framework based on Python that follows the Model-Template-View (MTV) architectural pattern. It features a built-in template system, ensuring high security and scalability.

Laravel is a free, open-source PHP framework based on Symfony. This platform uses the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern for web application development. Laravel offers a unified API for various backend queue systems, providing a wide range of tools and features that make building web apps more convenient and efficient.
There’s no clear winner in the Laravel vs Django battle, as both frameworks have their advantages and drawbacks. Choosing the right option will depend on the project’s requirements and business goals.