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Django Folder and File Project Structure: Best Practices

Django Web Framework Tutorials

When developing a Django project, organizing your codebase and folders effectively is crucial for maintainability, scalability, and collaboration. A well-structured folder and directory layout ensures a clean separation of concerns, making it easier to navigate through the code and understand the project’s architecture. In this blog, we’ll explore the best practices for setting up an ideal folder and directory structure for a Django project, complete with real-world examples.

Overview of Folder Structuring

Django Folder/Directory Structuring

Note: This folder structure can also be used for structuring your Django Rest Framework project too.

1. Project Root Directory:

At the root level of your Django project, you’ll find several essential files and directories:

/my_django_project/
|-- manage.py
|-- my_django_project/
    |-- settings.py
    |-- urls.py
    |-- asgi.py
    |-- wsgi.py
|-- requirements.txt
|-- apps/
|-- static/
|-- media/
|-- templates/

2. The “apps” Directory:

Django projects are often composed of multiple apps, each serving a specific functionality. Grouping these apps within a dedicated “apps” directory keeps the project well-organized:

/my_django_project/
|-- apps/
    |-- blog/
    |-- user_management/
    |-- ecommerce/

3. App Directory Structure:

Each app within the “apps” directory follows a structured layout. Here’s an example for the “blog” app:

/blog/
|-- migrations/
|-- static/
|-- templates/
|-- admin.py
|-- apps.py
|-- models.py
|-- views.py
|-- urls.py
|-- tests/
|-- forms.py (Optional)

4. The “static” Directory:

The global “static” directory holds project-wide static files, like CSS, JavaScript, and images used across different apps:

/my_django_project/
|-- static/
    |-- css/
    |-- js/
    |-- images/

5. The “media” Directory:

The “media” directory is used to store user-uploaded files:

/my_django_project/
|-- media/
    |-- user_uploads/

6. The “templates” Directory:

The “templates” directory stores project-wide templates and base templates that are extended by app-specific templates:

/my_django_project/
|-- templates/
    |-- base.html
    |-- header.html
    |-- footer.html
    |-- blog/
    |-- user_management/
    |-- ecommerce/

Common Patterns:

In addition to the above structure, some common patterns and practices include:

Organizing your Django project with a well-thought-out folder and directory structure is essential for long-term maintainability and codebase clarity. By following the best practices and adopting the examples mentioned above, you can ensure a clean and scalable Django project that remains easy to understand and expand as your application grows.

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