This tutorial summarizes the tasks completed while building a simple TODO application in Django. It explains how a web application works internally and compares this process with how a CMS like WordPress manages similar tasks automatically.
Understanding these fundamentals is valuable not only for Django developers, but also for WordPress developers who want deeper technical insight.
❓ Q1. What was the main objective of this exercise?
Answer:
The objective was to understand how a web application processes requests and displays dynamic content by building a basic TODO app using Django.
Through this exercise, learners explored:
- How URLs are mapped
- How views handle logic
- How templates render data
- How browsers receive responses
This builds a strong foundation in web application architecture.
❓ Q2. What was the first step in building the application?
Answer:
The first step was creating a new Django app named tasks.
Command Used
python manage.py startapp tasks
This generated the core structure required for development.
Purpose
Each Django app represents a separate feature.
In this case, the tasks app was responsible for managing the TODO list.
❓ Q3. Why was the app added to INSTALLED_APPS?
Answer:
Django only loads apps that are registered in INSTALLED_APPS.
Configuration
INSTALLED_APPS = [
...
"tasks",
]
This step informs Django that the app is part of the project.
WordPress Comparison
In WordPress, this step is equivalent to activating a plugin, which is handled through the admin dashboard.
❓ Q4. What is the function of urls.py?
Answer:
The urls.py file maps browser URLs to specific functions.
Project-Level Routing
path("tasks/", include("tasks.urls")),
App-Level Routing
urlpatterns = [
path("", views.index, name="index"),
]
This configuration connects /tasks/ to the main view.
WordPress Comparison
WordPress manages routing internally using permalinks and rewrite rules, without requiring manual configuration.
❓ Q5. What is a view in Django?
Answer:
A view is a Python function that processes requests and prepares responses.
Example View
from django.shortcuts import render
tasks = ["foo", "bar", "baz"]
def index(request):
return render(request, "tasks/index.html", {
"tasks": tasks
})
The view sends data to a template for display.
WordPress Comparison
In WordPress, similar logic is handled by PHP template functions and theme files.
❓ Q6. Why is HTML not written inside views.py?
Answer:
Django follows the principle of separation of concerns.
| Component | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Views | Business logic |
| Templates | Presentation |
| Models | Data |
Keeping logic and presentation separate improves maintainability.
WordPress Comparison
WordPress often mixes PHP and HTML in theme files, which can become difficult to manage in large projects.
❓ Q7. How is data passed from Python to HTML?
Answer:
Data is sent through the render() function and accessed in templates using Django Template Language.
Python Side
return render(request, "tasks/index.html", {
"tasks": tasks
})
Template Side
{% for task in tasks %}
<li>{{ task }}</li>
{% endfor %}
Django replaces template variables with real data before sending the page to the browser.
❓ Q8. How is the application executed?
Answer:
In Django, developers run the entire project rather than individual apps.
Command
python manage.py runserver
The application is accessed via:
/tasks/
WordPress Comparison
WordPress runs continuously on the server, and users access content directly through URLs.
❓ Q9. How does WordPress manage these processes automatically?
Answer:
WordPress internally manages:
- Routing
- Template loading
- Database queries
- Plugin initialization
- Content rendering
These processes are abstracted away from the user, making development accessible to non-programmers.
❓ Q10. Why is this knowledge important for WordPress developers?
Answer:
Understanding these internal mechanisms enables WordPress developers to:
- Debug complex issues
- Build advanced plugins
- Improve performance
- Develop headless solutions
- Transition to other frameworks
Such knowledge elevates developers from basic users to system-level problem solvers.
📌 Final Summary
Modern CMS platforms simplify development by automating complex processes. However, learning how frameworks like Django operate internally provides deeper technical understanding and long-term professional advantages.
A developer who understands routing, views, and templates is better equipped to design, maintain, and scale web applications.