How Long Does it Take to Learn Django?

Like many aspiring Web Developers, Python Developers, and Data Scientists, you might want to learn Django but worry that it will take too much time. Django is a complex Python web framework that takes time and discipline to learn. How long it takes a person to learn Django depends on whether the person has existing knowledge of Python fundamentals and knows another programming language. It also depends on how much time the person spends each week learning about Django and completing Django exercises. For students who thoroughly understand Python coding fundamentals, learning Django can take as little as one week. For others, time must first be spent learning Django prerequisites, thus extending the total time it takes to learn Django. 

Keep reading to learn about how you can learn Django and some resources to help speed the process along.

What is Django?

Django is a popular, open-source Python web framework used to rapidly, efficiently, and securely develop websites and web applications. Django began in 2003 as a way for developers Adrian Holovaty and Simon Willison to quickly build Lawrence Journal-World’s multiple news sites, constantly churning out new content for various communities. Since the public first gained access to Django in 2005, developers worldwide have made use of this free framework and contributed to its advancement. Today, Django improvements are managed by the nonprofit Django Software Foundation.

Django streamlines the web development process by emphasizing reusable components. These components eliminate the need for developers to manually enter the same code repeatedly. The time Django saves developers empowers web development teams to increase scalability, meet deadlines, and build multiple websites and web applications in quick succession.

Read more about what Django is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with Django?

Wondering what you can do with Django? Django has numerous use cases for web development, data science, and more. Django can build all sorts of websites, including a Content Management System (CMS), news site, social media platform, and more. 

Python objects called models allow Django web applications to query and manage data. Django’s simple query API allows the associated database to be searched, enabling complex statements. 

Django’s template systems allow developers to define an output document’s structure. It delivers content in nearly any format, including RSS feeds, HTML, XML, and JSON. Django supports its native templating system, the Jinja2 Python library out of the box, and can also be modified to support other systems. 

Other things you can do with Django include: 

• Collecting user data with HTML forms
• Manage a user permission and authentication system
• Create an administration site
• Serialize data

Average Time it Takes to Learn Django

It takes the average learner anywhere from one to four weeks to learn Django. This pace differs depending on several factors. These include whether you have an existing knowledge of Python, how much time you have to learn and practice Django each week, and what learning method you choose.

Building on Existing Python Knowledge

Those with existing, extensive knowledge of Python coding fundamentals learn Django the fastest. It takes less time to build on existing knowledge than to learn Python from scratch. Noble Desktop’s Python Web Development with Django course allows Web Developers and aspiring Web Developers dive straight into learning Django for web development. Courses like this that focus on a particular use case for Django also take less time than those that cover multiple use cases.

Learning Django When New To Python

If you do not know how to code with Python, the fastest way to learn Django is by taking a class that teaches Python fundamentals and Django. Noble’s Python Coding Bootcamp teaches beginners the fundamentals of Python, how to use Django, and other Python coding skills in just three weeks. Another option, but one that will require a longer amount of time, is to take a class that teaches Python fundamentals, followed by a class that teaches Django.

Self-paced vs. Part-time vs. Full-time Learning

The type of Django training you choose also impacts how long it takes to learn Django. Self-paced courses allow you to learn as quickly or slowly as you please, but limited access to an instructor can impede your progress. Live online classes may offer part-time and full-time enrollment options for the same classes. Part-time classes last about twice as many weeks as full-time but require fewer hours of learning each week. Those who enroll in a full-time course can learn Django in minimum time.

Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost 

Django is a challenging Python web framework to learn due to its complexities and many uses. Before learning Django, you must also develop a thorough understanding of certain prerequisites. If you have no prior experience coding, it is best to start by learning a simple programming language such as HTML or CSS. HTML and CSS also benefit those who wish to learn Django because HTML, CSS, and Django are used in web development. Before learning Django, you must also thoroughly understand Python coding fundamentals. 

Django training costs depend mainly on the type of Django class you take. You can find free trials and introductory Python programming courses online. On-demand Python and Django classes can cost as little as $20 to $50 per month for a learning platform subscription such as Coursera or Udemy. Instructor-led Django classes cost far more but offer more in-depth training, personalized feedback, job assistance, mentorship, and other benefits that make learning Django and preparing for a Django career easier. In-person Django classes and live online Django classes cost anywhere from $500 to $20,000, depending on the school, course length, depth and breadth of the curriculum, and other factors. Many certificate programs that include Django range from around $1,500 to $5,000. 

Read about how difficult it is to learn Django.

Watch a Free Django Online Course

Before committing to a full course, you can gain an overview of Django with free introductory courses online. Noble Desktop’s Intro to Python Fundamentals is a free online course introducing Python coding to beginners.

Other on-demand online courses include video courses found on sites like Udemy and Coursera. Coursera’s Programming For Everybody (Getting Started with Python) class is an on-demand video series from the University of Michigan. This and other Coursera courses permit a seven-day free trial before committing to a paid plan. Coursera also offers Python courses from Google, IBM Skills Network, and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The subscription platform Udemy also offers a seven-day free trial for the subscription-based model. A Udemy subscription allows you to take as many courses as you please. You can also purchase a course for a flat fee and progress through it at your own pace without a subscription. 

Read about more free Python videos and online tutorials.

Learn Django with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Learning Django not only requires learning the principles and applications of this framework but applying those concepts to real-world, hands-on projects. In-person and live online Django classes provide the opportunity to put theory into practice. Courses led by an instructor also grant you direct access to an expert that can help you overcome obstacles, answer your questions, and provide mentorship as you develop your Django skills.

You can learn Django with Noble Desktop’s hands-on training options like the Software Engineering Bootcamp, Python Developer Certificate, the Python Django Development course, and other Python classes and bootcamps. 

The Software Engineering and Python Developer certificate programs teach Django as part of a broader curriculum. The Software Engineering Certificate prepares students to become Full Stack Developers or Software Engineers with sections dedicated to front end development, JavaScript development, and Python development with Django. The Python Developer Certificate teaches beginners to use Django, Django REST, Git, SQL, and more. 

Students already familiar with Python but wishing for a deeper dive into Django can enroll in the Python Django Development course. This class covers the fundamentals of Django and how to use Django REST, which is used to build web APIs.

Noble’s small class sizes ensure you receive personal feedback from your instructor. Courses include free retakes and offer flexible payment plans so you can finance your new career without paying the full tuition upfront. Certificate courses also include one-on-one mentorship and the creation of professional portfolios to help you find a job in your new field.

Key Insights

• Django is a high-level Python web framework used to build websites and web applications rapidly and securely. 
• Web Developers, Python Developers, and Data Scientists use Django.
• It takes the average learner between one to four weeks to learn Django.
• How quickly you learn Django depends on the extent of your coding knowledge and how much time you commit to learning each week.
• You cannot learn Django without a thorough understanding of Python fundamentals.
• Online Django training options include on-demand courses and live online classes.
• You can receive comprehensive Django training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.