Flask Tutorial

Flask is a lightweight and powerful web framework for Python. It’s often called a "micro-framework" because it provides the essentials for web development without unnecessary complexity. Unlike Django, which comes with built-in features like authentication and an admin panel, Flask keeps things minimal and lets us add only what we need.

This Flask tutorial covers everything from setup and installation to advanced topics like authentication, database integration and deployment. You'll also find Flask project ideas, FAQs and interview questions to help you prepare for job interviews.

Interesting Facts about Flask

Here are some interesting facts about Flask:

1. Microframework: Flask is considered a "micro" web framework because it is lightweight and simple to use, with minimal dependencies. It doesn't come with the full set of tools that more extensive frameworks like Django provide, giving developers more control and flexibility over the application structure.
2. Werkzeug and Jinja2: Flask is built on top of two powerful libraries:
   • Werkzeug: A comprehensive WSGI web server library that helps manage the application's request and response cycles.
   • Jinja2: A templating engine that allows you to use dynamic HTML in your application, making it easy to build web pages with variables and loops.
3. Routing: Flask’s routing system is extremely simple and intuitive. You define routes with decorators that map URLs to Python functions. This makes it very easy to set up and control the flow of your application.
4. No ORM by Default: Unlike Django, Flask does not come with a built-in Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) tool like Django’s ORM. Instead, it lets developers choose their ORM, such as SQLAlchemy or simply use raw SQL.
5. RESTful API Support: Flask is popular for building RESTful APIs. Its simplicity and flexibility make it a great choice for building APIs and many developers use it for creating microservices and backends for single-page applications.
6. Development Server: Flask comes with a built-in development server that makes it easy to test and run the application locally. This server is lightweight and designed for use during development rather than production.

Introduction to Flask

In this section, we’ll introduce Flask for web development, explore why it’s a micro web framework and compare it with Django. We’ll also cover Flask installation, preparing you to start building web applications.

• Introduction to Web Development using Flask
• Differences Between Django and Flask
• Installation of Flask on Windows

Flask Quick Start

Welcome to Flask Quick Start - your go-to guide for mastering Flask development essentials in a snap! From crafting your inaugural application to fine-tuning HTTP methods, routes and redirects, this concise yet comprehensive resource equips you with the skills needed to excel in Flask development.

• Creating the first simple application
• Run a Flask Application
• Flask Routes
• Flask Models
• Flask – HTTP Method
• Flask - Variable Rules
• Redirects and URL
• Redirect and Errors
• Change Port in Flask app
• Changing Host IP Address in Flask

Templates and Static Files in Flask

Templates in Flask are HTML files used to create dynamic web pages. Flask uses Jinja2, a powerful templating engine, to embed Python logic in these templates. Static files like CSS, JavaScript and images are stored separately to enhance the user interface. This section covers how to use templates and static files effectively in Flask.

• Templates in Flask
• Template Inheritance
• Static Files in Flask

Form Handling

Forms in Flask allow users to submit data, such as login credentials or search queries. Flask handles forms using the request object to capture user input and process it on the server. Flask uses Flask-WTF that simplifies validation and security. This section covers handling forms, processing input and ensuring validation in Flask applications.

• Flask-WTF
• Handling File Uploads
• CSFR Protection

Flask Configuration

In Flask, configurations help manage settings like debug mode, database connections and secret keys. Instead of hardcoding these values, you can define them separately to make your app more secure and adaptable for different environments such as development, testing and production.

• Flask App Configuration
• Flask Environment-Specific Configuration

Database in Flask

Flask uses databases to store and manage data, with Flask-SQLAlchemy as its most popular tool for handling relational databases like SQLite and PostgreSQL. It provides an ORM (Object Relational Mapper) for easier database interactions while also supporting raw SQL queries. Flask can also connect to NoSQL databases like MongoDB. This section covers setting up databases, performing CRUD operations and integrating Flask with different database systems.

• Flask-SQLAlchemy
• Flask SQLite
• Sending Data from a Flask app to MongoDB Database
• Making a Flask app using a PostgreSQL Database
• Build a Web App using Flask and SQLite in Python
• Login and Registration Project Using Flask and MySQL
• Execute raw SQL in the Flask-SQLAlchemy

Middlewares in Flask

Flask middlewares process requests and responses before they reach the app or user. They handle tasks like logging, authentication and request modifications. Though Flask lacks built-in middleware support, you can use before_request, after_request and teardown_request decorators or integrate WSGI middleware.

• What are Middlewares in Flask
• WSGI Middleware

Authentication in Flask

Flask handles user authentication with tools like Flask-Login for login, logout and session management. Bcrypt secures passwords with hashing, while role-based access control restricts user permissions. This section covers authentication basics, managing sessions, displaying usernames and handling JSON responses.

• How To Add Authentication to Your App with Flask-Login
• Display Current Username in Flask
• Password Hashing with Bcrypt in Flask
• How to store username and password in Flask
• Flask – Role-Based Access Control
• Flask Sessions to server Logout
• Flask - JWT
• Flask Cookies
• Flask - JSON Response

Rest APIs in Flask

Flask makes building REST APIs easy, handling requests like GET, POST, PUT and DELETE. With Flask-RESTful or simple routes, you can send and receive JSON data, manage authentication and secure your API. This section covers creating and using REST APIs in Flask.

• Creating Rest APIs
• Flask RESTful Extension
• Serialization and Deserialization

Advanced Topics

Flask supports advanced features for building high-performance applications. Asynchronous programming with AsyncIO allows handling multiple tasks efficiently. Flask WebSockets enable real-time communication for chat apps and live updates.

• Asynchronous Programming with async.io
• Web Sockets in Flask
• Flask Blueprints

Flask Deployment and Error Handling

Delve into Flask with Python deployment and error handling, covering subdomain management, 404 error handling, deploying Flask apps on Heroku and incorporating machine learning models seamlessly.

• Subdomain in Flask
• Handling 404 Error in Flask
• Dockerization
• Deploy Python Flask App on Heroku
• Deploy Machine Learning Model using Flask

Flask Projects

Explore a variety of Flask Web Framework projects, from a todo list app to sentiment analysis on Twitter, showcasing diverse functionalities such as portfolio creation, MySQL integration and interactive data visualization with graphs and charts.

• Todo list app using Flask Python
• Single Page Portfolio Using Flask
• Profile Application using Python Flask and MySQL
• Wikipedia search app using Flask Framework – Python
• Twitter Sentiment Analysis WebApp Using Flask
• Create Cricket Score API using Web Scraping in Flask
• How to Add Graphs to Flask Apps
• Flask Projects Archives 

Difference Between Flask and Django

Here in this section, we have create a comparison table of Flask and Django.

Career Opportunities with Flask

Must Read - Top 40 Flask Interview Questions and Answers