Laravel vs. Django: A Head-to-Head Comparison

Django and Laravel are two well-known web frameworks. Both have exceptional features, functionalities, and capacities to support and meet the needs of users in a variety of industrial verticals.

This article compares Django vs. Laravel based on several characteristics, such as ease of learning, usability, performance, security, scalability, database and microservices support, community support, and more. But first, let's go over the fundamentals of web frameworks in general, followed by Django and Laravel. 

What Is Laravel?

Laravel is a free and open-source server-side web framework built on PHP. Taylor Otwell created it in 2011 with the intention of producing web applications. Laravel is licensed under the MIT license, and the most recent version is Laravel 10, which was released in March of this year, with Laravel 11 expected in February 2024.

It is a robust Model-View-Controller (MVC) PHP framework created for developers that require a simple and beautiful toolset for creating custom web applications.

According to BuiltWith, 1,706,641 use the Laravel framework. In addition, there21 live websites are using Laravel, of which 304,414 are in the United States alone.

Developers can create products effortlessly with Laravel's wide range of features.

Features of Laravel

• Migrations for version control of database schemas and simplifying app deployment and updates.
• Class autoloading for automated PHP class-loading without manual inclusion path maintenance.
• Eloquent ORM for enforcing constraints on database objects and using PHP syntax for queries.
• Query builder for direct database access without writing SQL.
• Restful controllers for separating logic behind POST and GET requests.
• Artisan CLI for efficient app management and creation, Modular packaging with Bundles and Composer. 
• Reverse routing for automatic updates to relevant links.
• Templating engine for view generation and dynamic site creation.

Laravel is used by companies in various industries, including IT, SaaS, healthcare, finance, entertainment, travel, and retail. 

• 9GAG
• Alison
• Barchart
• Invoice Ninja
• Alpha Coders
• October CMS
• Neighbor Lender
• Myrank 
• Laravel.io
• Lenovo

What Is Django?

Django is a Python-based web framework that is open-source and free. The Django Software Foundation created and maintained it since its initial release in 2005. Django uses a three-clause BSD license; the most recent version is Django 4.2.

This high-level web framework makes it simple to create better online applications faster and with less code. Django promotes simple, pragmatic design for quick web app development. Django employs the Model-View-Template (MVT) architecture to create aesthetically beautiful and highly functional web app design.

According to BuiltWith, 59,052 websites are built using the Django framework. There are 12,304 live websites, of which 4,275 are in the United States. 

Because this framework is so widely used, any organization will have no trouble locating a Django development services company.

Features of Django

• It is open-source and free, which increases convenience and lowers development expenses.
• It's straightforward syntax and easy-to-read code make it ideal for beginners, with a flat learning curve.
• They are purely intended for rapid web development, allowing for the rapid building of apps.
• Extremely secure, having an integrated user authentication system and protection against various assaults.
• Comes with a slew of supplementary features for content management, user authentication, and more.
• Adaptable architecture makes it simple to organize development tasks from concept through deployment.
• Django is expandable, with over 2,500 packages available for adding new features.

Django is used to construct web applications by organizations of all sizes, from startups to major corporations. Its flexibility, ease of usage, and speed have piqued the interest of the world's most powerful technology companies. Some of them are mentioned below:

• NASA
• Spotify
• Dropbox
• Udemy
• Instagram 
• National Geographic
• Mozilla
• Pinterest
• Disqus 
• Prezi 

Django vs. Laravel: What Are the Key Differences?

By understanding these ten differences, developers can make informed choices regarding which framework is best for their particular project.

1. Type of Web Framework

• Django: Based on Python
• Laravel: Based on PHP

2. Learning Ease

• Django: Suited for beginners because it is easy to learn and very Developer friendly. 
• Laravel: Has more code complexities with ample exceptions along with a steep learning curve.

3. Performance

• Django: Django is a high-performance web framework with excellent speed and performance because it is built on Python. Because of the rapid code execution compilation, it enables developers to speed up the web development process. You will also be able to easily discover and debug flaws in your code.
• Laravel: Laravel has a wide range of built-in functionality, which is valuable yet slows speed. This mandates that the developers discover alternative efficient techniques to accelerate the app development process.

4. Application Architecture

• Django: A Model-Template-View (MVT) architecture is utilized in Django. Model, view, and template are the most crucial components. 
• Laravel: A Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture is utilized in Laravel. Model, view, and controller are the main parts here.

5. Scalability

• Django: Highly scalable web framework with seamless integration with various technologies such as CDN solutions, cloud computing, and so on to provide greater scaling.
• Laravel: Despite Laravel's limited scalability, it remains suitable for growing enterprises that don't require significant scalability at the beginning. A Laravel-based app can be scaled by incorporating technologies such as AWS, MySQL, etc.

6. Security

• Django: In Django, user passwords, IDs, and accounts are verified and managed using an authentication system.
• Laravel: Salted and hashed passwords offer some security that secures users from issues like SQL injection, intercepting data, harmful cookies, etc., up to an extent.

7. Microservices compatibility

• Django backs microservices to provide greater flexibility, increased built-in security, and faster deployment.
• Laravel also supports microservices. However, it requires Lumen — a lighter version for the implementation.

8. Documentation

• Django: Django's documentation is clear and easy to read, with well-organized and thorough information. Plus, it has several cross-references for extensive explanations with examples.
• Laravel: The documentation for Laravel is devoid of examples and detailed explanations. As a result, beginners may struggle to grasp the concepts at times.

9. REST API

• Django: Because there isn't built-in API support, you will need a library to implement this feature. 
• Laravel: Supports built-in API, and the queries return JSON by default.

10. Popularity

• Django: Although Django offers many great features, it is not as popular as Laravel. As of now, it supports just about 60k sites and 12k plus unique domains on the web.
• Laravel: Laravel's popularity surpasses that of Django. As of now, it supports 1.7 million plus sites and 737k plus unique domains on the internet.

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

The discussion between Django and Laravel appears to be never-ending. It's because they both have strong qualities in terms of web development. They have best-in-class features, functions, and use cases to support startups, small and medium-sized organizations, and giant conglomerates in several industry verticals.

As a result, stating unequivocally which of the two is superior would be difficult. It comes down to a decision based on the type and requirements of your project. If you're torn between Django and Laravel, take a step back and think about which will be more advantageous to your project in the long term.

Django is better if you have previous experience with it or are familiar with Python. Django can be used to build: 

• Social networking platforms that are dynamic and totally customizable.
• Customer Relationship Management for e-commerce sites or booking engines. 
• B2B apps that are large and secure.
• Data science applications Software goods relating to science and education, food and drink, etc.
• An application that involves Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning.

Laravel is ideal if you are a beginner or are confident in your ability to develop in PHP. Laravel can be used to build: 

• A micro or medium web application or website, such as a blog.
• Advanced apps on a budget (using Laravel's Blade Template Engine), Interactive site layouts with resonant content.
• CSS and JavaScript-enabled web applications.
• Applications that are SEO-friendly.
• Projects in the arts, entertainment, technology, electronics, legislation, and so on.

Conclusion

Both Django and Laravel are popular web development frameworks. However, the Python-based Django framework is known for its scalability and security features, whereas the PHP-based Laravel framework is known for its elegant syntax. By reading the above article and understanding the differences, I hope you can become more informed about which framework is right for you.