You may have heard Web Developers talking about Flask but what exactly is it? What kinds of features does Flask have to offer? Is it worth learning or just another useless tool? Let’s take a deeper dive into Flask and find out what it’s all about.
What Is Flask?
Flask is a micro web framework written in Python that speeds up application development by providing essential back end components for programmers to build upon. Flask is simple and lightweight—one of the most manageable frameworks around—and contains only the vital necessities for web development. It is, however, also designed to be highly extensible so developers can customize it however they see fit.
What is a Web Framework?
In essence, a web framework is a predesigned set of tools, libraries, and functionalities that can be used to simplify the process of web development. Frameworks provide a way to standardize the creation, development, publishing, and maintenance of websites, web applications, web APIs, etc. Frameworks include built-in code packages that automate common activities involved with web development, which reduces the amount of coding needed, speeding up the web development process and making it more efficient.
Why Is Flask Called a “Micro” Framework?
Flask is considered a “micro” framework because it’s lightweight and only provides essential components for web development such as request handling, routing, sessions, etc. There are no specific libraries or tools required by Flask and it doesn’t contain components like form validation, database integration, and upload handling that other frameworks may provide; instead, Flask allows you to choose which libraries to use instead of imposing a pre-set solution upon you. But that doesn’t mean that Flask isn’t versatile; it supports extensions and custom-coded modules that add application features as if they were created within Flask.
What Makes Flask a Good Framework to Use?
Since its initial release to the public in 2010, Flask has grown to become one of the top 10 most popular frameworks among back end web developers. In fact, Stack Overflow’s 2021 survey revealed that more than 13% of professional developers used Flask extensively in the previous year; it’s even more popular than Django.
If you ask developers why they use Flask, you’ll likely get a very long list of reasons. Here are some of the key features that have made Flask such a popular framework:
- Easy to set up and use
- Consumes minimal resources
- Streamlines application development, deployment, and maintenance
- Extensions available to add desired features
- Easy to learn for those who know Python
- Has extensive documentation
- APIs are well-designed and coherent
- Excellent scalability for simple applications
- Built-in web server and debugger
- Unit testing support
- RESTful request dispatching
- Relatively small codebase size
- Support for secure cookies on client side
- Compatible with Google App Engine
- 100% compliant with WSGI 1.0
- Uses Jinja templating
- Includes Unicode support
- Enables rapid app prototyping
Which Companies Use Flask?
You can find Flask at work in a wide range of industries including entertainment, social media, hospitality, transportation, communication, and tech. Here are just a few examples of companies that use Flask:
- Netflix
- Airbnb
- Uber
- Lyft
- Mozilla
- Samsung
- Patreon
- MIT
- Rackspace
- Teradata
Why Should I Learn Flask?
If you currently work in back end development (or hope to someday) then learning Flask is essential. Here are the top four reasons why you should learn Flask.
It’s Useful
The primary reason you should learn Flask is because it’s useful. Did you see that long list of features that Flask has to offer? Flask can provide you with the basic architecture and tools you need to develop your application. And since Flask is lightweight, it contains all the essentials without any excess components so it consumes a minimal amount of resources. If you need to add functionality, you can always use an extension to customize it as you see fit. In essence, Flask makes it much easier for you to create, deploy, and maintain web applications. Consider the alternative—would you rather code everything from scratch, instead?
It’s Popular
It also makes sense to learn Flask because it’s one of the most popular web frameworks in the world. Thanks to its many features, the popularity of Flask has climbed steadily ever since it was released to the public. For the past several years, professional web developers have reported extensive use of Flask, making it one of the top 10 most widely used frameworks.
It’s Easy to Learn
Another reason to learn Flask is because it’s not a difficult tool to master; it’s pretty easy to pick up Flask once you’ve acquired some knowledge of Python. Because it’s so lightweight and only contains the necessary elements, Flask is much more accessible and easier to learn than Django, another popular Python framework. In fact, if you’re new to back end web development and are wondering which framework to try out first, Flask is the better choice because it’s simpler and more straightforward.
It Makes You More Marketable
Like most other web development skills, knowledge of Flask is in high demand in the workplace. Having a solid grasp of Flask will provide you with access to a wider range of career pathways including Back End Developer, Full Stack Developer, and Python Developer. The type of positions that require or recommend Flask skills are very lucrative, too; employees in these roles earn an average of $106,000 to $115,000 in the United States.
How Do I Learn Flask?
There’s a wide range of options available for those wanting to learn Flask, including written tutorials, video series, in-person classes, bootcamps, and more. Let’s take a closer look at what each of these options has to offer.
Prerequisites for Learning Flask
Before attempting to learn Flask, it’s important that you have a few fundamental skills under your belt first. Of course, you must already have a solid foundation in Python before tackling Flask. Knowing Python makes learning Flask a whole lot easier; without a firm grasp of Python, Flask probably won’t make much sense to you.
It’s also a good idea to have acquired some basic knowledge of programming and web development fundamentals including HTML and CSS. An understanding of databases like SQL and how to manage them is also recommended.
Flask Educational Resources
If you already meet all the prerequisites, then learning Flask on your own should be fairly easy. There is a wide range of educational resources available to help with self-guided learning. One of the best places to start is with the official documentation for Flask; it’s incredibly thorough and can offer a lot of help in mastering the framework including a detailed tutorial to walk you through the process step-by-step.
There are several additional ways to learn Flask outside of the official documentation, such as this tutorial provided on GitHub. If you do a quick search on YouTube, you’ll find countless video tutorials offered there, as well. And though it doesn’t seem like the most effective way to learn a web framework, there are even books available on the topic.
Flask Classes
If you prefer having more structure when acquiring a new skill or you need to complete some of the prerequisites listed above, then the best way to learn Flask is by taking classes, either online or in person. You can often find Flask included as part of Python courses or web development classes. There are even web development classes offered live online so you can learn from a highly-trained expert while remaining in the comfort of your own home.
An alternative way to learn Flask plus all of its prerequisites is by enrolling in a web development bootcamp . This option works especially well for those who are either starting on a new career path or switching specialties within the tech field. Bootcamps are intensive, skills-focused courses designed with career preparedness in mind; within just a few short months, you can be ready for a completely new profession. For those with a busy schedule who are unable to go to bootcamp in person, there are live online web development bootcamps with flexible scheduling options to fit within your busy life.