Introduction

There are many database management systems for Django. But why should we prefer Django ORM rather than SQL/MySQL?

Most of our data is currently stored in SQL databases and we need a way to query this data. The most common solution is to use a database management system called the Django ORM, also known as the “Django Database Model Object-relational Framework.” This framework does make it easy for developers to build Python apps that use SQL databases efficiently. If you are ready to dive into the world of Python and Django you can check out Python Django developer training in Kochi.

At the very least, you may be wondering which one is better. Here’s a brief comparison of features and advantages that will help you decide on which DBMS to use with your application:

ORM Features and Advantages

• SQL/MySQL Database creation through MySQL or SQL Server;
• four-tier architecture (i.e. frontend, login, application and database);
• easy to use and learn; support for JOIN operations;
• relational data model (1: many, many: 1 relations);
• a constraint-based approach to enforce business rules by means of unique keys, primary keys, foreign keys, and referential integrity. No need to modify your models when you change the database structure. Django ORM Create tables in the underlying DBMS through a set of shell commands;
• deploy in three-tier architecture (i.e. frontend, login, application, and database);
• restrict data access to the web tier;
• a declarative approach to define business rules and validation through model classes;
• automatically generates SQL code to manipulate database and stores in an intermediate cache layer;
• allow changes to the database and models without requiring a change in code.

• SQL/MySQL High performance, scalable;
• easy to use. Django ORM Manage complex business rules through a class-based approach.

Disadvantages/Caveats

• SQL/MySQL Requires time-consuming middleware development. Requires effort to extend database schema when models change. Django ORM is Quite slow for objects that require many queries (e.g. many-to-many relationships);
• difficult to modify database structure; doesn’t support transactions or foreign keys.
• Since we already mentioned that SQL/MySQL is quite slow for objects that require many queries, Django ORM is an ideal choice for these types of applications. But, as illustrated above, there are some disadvantages and caveats that you should consider before declaring your final decision.
• Django ORM has a lot of advantages compared to the SQL approach: a declarative approach to define business rules and validation through model classes;
• automatically generates SQL code to manipulate database and stores in an intermediate cache layer;
• allow changes to the database and models without requiring a change in code.

The Good: MySql/SQL

Don’t be fooled by the title of this section; there are some good things about these databases that can make your life easier when using them with a heavy focus on Python and Django development (although this list isn’t necessarily exhaustive).

1. They are designed for SQL and know how to use it: SQL is a programming language that has been around for a long time and is used in many situations in many different languages and applications. It is one of the most common ways to perform database operations, so having a framework that supports it makes sense. MySql/SQL also uses SQL, even if it doesn’t use the same syntax as the standard version of SQL. It makes the process of creating tables forgiving when you step out of the standard Django ORM library.

2. They are available without installing Python: If you’re not planning on working on your database directly with Python, then this isn’t very useful. However, if you’re looking for a web application that is not 100% compatible with Python, then using a database that isn’t Python-based can be positive by reducing the amount of work you need to do to get it working on your machine.

3. They are written in native SQL rather than being like Django: Many people who dislike SQL feel that the only reason they should look at it is that they hate Django ORM and wish it was different. For some, this is true and they don’t care about other strengths of SQL, but for most people who have used data base applications before, this is simply not the case. SQL is a well-designed language, not a mishmash of poor programming languages cobbled together. In fact, if you’re already familiar with other database applications, it can make it easier for you to learn SQL.

4. They are fast: When compared to MySQL/SQL, MySql/SQL tends to be faster because they are written in native C (not Python) and use optimized functions and procedures built into the database itself rather than having to call external programs on the server to do specific tasks. If you’re not concerned about speed, then this might not be a feature that could sway your decision since it would likely be faster using Django ORM even if it had fewer features.

However, if you are looking for a scalable high-performance data management system that can be used by a large number of users simultaneously, SQL/MySQL(as DBMS) is your best choice. But do not forget to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each data management system before you make the final decision.

Django ORM does provide a flexible way to interact with the database, however, for most applications it may be overkill. Once a Django app is created, you can simply focus on the application logic without much involvement from other layers (think about logging, exception handling, etc.). In some cases, it makes sense to use Django ORM when you are dealing with a relational schema that is more complex than something you might use in a normal non-RDBMS project.

Conclusion

Django ORM is a fantastic tool for simplifying database management. If you need to build, applications that can scale, then you should probably take into consideration both SQL and NoSQL databases. However, there are some intricacies worth noting and which you should bear in mind when assessing your database needs. If you want to know more about python and Django you can check out learn python Django training course in Kochi.