In the recent past, Python’s popularity has exploded, and this is no surprise. The programming language has surpassed Java in popularity, and that, too, is for the right reasons. With the advent of machine learning, artificial intelligence, Android, and web application development, many developers and data scientists utilize Python for its robust and abundant libraries, easy-to-learn syntax, and flexibility.

As a software developer, you should consider Python because of the flexibility that it offers in terms of usage and libraries. In this article, we'll discuss in more detail why Python is a smart choice to learn and outline the five best Python frameworks for the web.

We'll cover:

Why Python?
5 top Python web frameworks
1- Flask
2- Django
3- FastAPI
4-CherryPy
5-Bottle
Take the next step with Python web frameworks

Why Python?

Python is an object-oriented programming language used for all types of development, including web development, data science, machine learning, data engineering, DevOps, and more.

Additionally, Python is extensively used by several FAANG companies, including Netflix, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more, which process billions of user requests daily. Python is the force that keeps their processes running smoothly.

More reasons to learn Python are:

Low learning curve: Python code syntax is the easiest to learn because it is mostly like English, so anyone can easily pick it up. It relies mainly on whitespace and common expressions for syntax.
Vibrant ecosystem and libraries: Python’s vast library tools and packages allow access to templated pre-written code, saving tons of development time for users. Our article will discuss some of the popular libraries and frameworks.
Wide-spread popularity: Python enjoys a strong community and excellent documentation with new libraries and frameworks being added often. This makes it easy for entry-level programmers to kickstart their journeys to become developers quickly.

Today, we'll look at the five top Python web frameworks of 2022.

A web framework is a pre-made skeleton or template of a website in a specific programming language syntax that makes the work of developers less tedious.

5 top Python web frameworks

1- Flask

Flask is undoubtedly one of the leading Python frameworks in 2022. Available under the BSD license and inspired by the Sinatra Ruby framework, Flask depends on the WSGI toolkit and the Jinja2 template.

The basic functionality of a Flask framework is to help lay a stable web application base. Once this is done, you can use any extensions of your choice to build upon it per your requirements. Because Flask is lightweight, you can use it for any project.

This micro-framework comes with several functionalities, including Google App compatibility and the following:

Jinja2 templating
WSGI compatibility
HTTP request handling capability
Built-in server development and debugger
Integrated unit-testing support
Support for secure cookies
RESTful request dispatch handling
Ability to plug into any Object Relational Mapping (ORM) framework

2- Django

Django, like Flask, is one of the most popular Python frameworks and is especially suitable for building more extensive applications. Django emphasizes rapid development with a neat and pragmatic design approach, which is why it is the number 1 choice among web developers today.

Django 2.0 is high-speed and compatible with Python versions 3.4 and higher. The main advantage of Django over other frameworks is its deployment speed and versatility. Everything is built-in and supported, including routing, URL parsing, form validation, and templating, to ensure that you can build applications quickly and easily.

More features of the Django framework include:

Versatility
High scalability
Top-notch documentation
Robust security
Rapid development
Vast add-ins
SEO optimization

3- FastAPI

FastAPI is a high-performance, versatile, modern, and easy-to-learn framework meant for production-ready code. As per its name, the framework connects API endpoints faster and is high-speed. It works with Python versions 3.6 and higher.

FastAPI uses the Starlette project as its central point networking core, but it's not necessarily a requirement to know how to use Starlette’s internals to work with FastAPI.

You can define endpoints using decorators to determine which functions handle routes and which dictionaries are converted to JSON files.

A few features of FastAPI include:

Fast and efficient
High yielding and performant
Minimizes debugging
Reduces code duplication
Robust production-ready code
Interactive documentation

4- CherryPy

CherryPy is an object-oriented web development framework for Python. It has been around for more than 10 years, making it one of the oldest, fastest, and most reliable web frameworks used today.

You can use this micro-framework to create web applications with less source code and a reliable database, so it is primarily a good framework for beginners.

The best feature is that you can fully deploy your code using only CherryPy’s built-in features without using third-party libraries.

Key features of CherryPy include:

Versatile plugin system
All-round setup and activation system
Built-in validation and testing support
Faster development time
Robust community support

5- Bottle

Bottle is a Python web framework that has zero dependencies on third-party libraries and is also lightweight, so much that it only has a single file module. The Bottle micro-framework is perfect for creating smaller applications.

Additionally, Bottle is async-friendly, meaning you can update your application data continuously.

It also comes with a built-in HTTP development server.

Key features of Bottle include:

Built-in HTTP development server
Speed optimization
High-performance file transfer capabilities
WSGI server compatibility
Dynamic routing capabilities using URL mapping routes
Easy and convenient access to utilities
Support for various templates, such as jinja2, mako, and cheetah

Given the sheer number of Python libraries and packages available, one article can't do justice to all the popular web frameworks for the language.
Others not discussed today include:

Web2py
CubicWeb (a semantic web framework)
TurboGears
Dash

Take the next step with Python web frameworks

Now that you have a good understanding of the best Python web frameworks, don’t be afraid to dive right in and test your skills. Depending on your development goals, you may have to select a web framework that meets your specific needs.

In addition, learning the following technologies will equip you with better development skills as you upskill in your career:

Create models and forms
Create a REST API
Server static files
And much more

You can discover all these concepts and more in Educative’s course Django: Python Web Development Unleashed.

You’ll be exposed to beginning and intermediate concepts with several real-world projects, and you will have a robust Django portfolio at the end of the course.

Happy learning!

Continue learning about web frameworks on Educative

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5 top Python web frameworks of 2022