Web Development Using Python: Top Frameworks With Best Practices

What Is Python Web Development?

Python web development refers to building web applications and services with Python. When working on web development using Python, it is primarily used for backend/server-side logic, database operations, data processing, and API endpoints.

This also integrates with frontend technologies, which manage the visual and interactive elements users engage with. Together, the frontend and backend create dynamic, functional, and user-friendly web applications.

Why Use Python for Web Development?

One of the key decisions in web development is selecting the right programming language. Python is widely chosen for web development using Python due to several advantages:

• Easy to Learn: Python’s simple syntax and dynamic typing make it beginner-friendly. It allows developers to write code quickly and flexibly without unnecessary complexity.
• Fast Development: Python’s frameworks and libraries enable rapid prototyping and development. This helps developers bring projects to life much faster than many other languages.
• Extensive Libraries: Python offers libraries for data analysis, machine learning, web scraping, and more. These libraries provide ready-to-use tools that reduce effort and speed up workflows.
• Security: Python and frameworks like Django include built-in security features such as CSRF protection, input escaping, secure session handling, and authentication modules. Libraries and frameworks are also actively maintained with regular updates and security patches.

To get started with web development using Python, check out a beginner-friendly Python tutorial and start learning Python.

Note: Run your Python tests at scale across 3000+ browsers and OS combinations. Try TestMu AI Now!

Running Your Web Development Project Using Python

Testing your Python web project locally allows you to confirm that all components operate as intended. This step helps catch errors early, ensures the application runs efficiently, and prepares it for scaling or integration with automated workflows.

Code Implementation:

Add the following test class to your test.py file. This code sets up a Selenium WebDriver, navigates to your To-Do application, adds new tasks, and then verifies they appear in the list.

import time

from django.contrib.staticfiles.testing import StaticLiveServerTestCase
from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.service import Service
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
from selenium.webdriver.common.keys import Keys
from selenium.webdriver.support import expected_conditions as EC
from selenium.webdriver.support.ui import WebDriverWait
from webdriver_manager.chrome import ChromeDriverManager


class ToDoAppTest(StaticLiveServerTestCase):
   """Functional tests for the To-Do List app using Selenium"""

   def setUp(self):
       options = webdriver.ChromeOptions()
       # Comment this line out if you want to SEE the browser
       # options.add_argument("--headless=new")
       options.add_argument("--disable-gpu")
       options.add_argument("--no-sandbox")

       self.browser = webdriver.Chrome(
           service=Service(ChromeDriverManager().install()),
           options=options,
       )

   def tearDown(self):
       # Keep the browser open for 5 seconds before closing (for demo)
       time.sleep(5)
       self.browser.quit()

   def test_add_multiple_tasks(self):
       # 1. Open homepage (adjust URL if your form is not at "/todo/")
       self.browser.get(self.live_server_url + "/todo/")

       tasks_to_add = ["Buy milk", "Walk the dog"]

       for task in tasks_to_add:
           # Wait for the input box fresh on every loop iteration
           input_box = WebDriverWait(self.browser, 5).until(
               EC.presence_of_element_located((By.NAME, "task"))
           )
           input_box.clear()  # not strictly necessary, but safe
           input_box.send_keys(task)
           input_box.send_keys(Keys.RETURN)

           # Wait until the new task appears in the list
           WebDriverWait(self.browser, 5).until(
               EC.text_to_be_present_in_element((By.ID, "task-list"), task)
           )

       # Collect all tasks in the list
       task_list = self.browser.find_element(By.ID, "task-list")
       tasks = task_list.find_elements(By.TAG_NAME, "li")
       task_texts = [t.text for t in tasks]

       # Assert all tasks are present
       for task in tasks_to_add:
           self.assertIn(task, task_texts)

       # Pause so you can see the final state in the browser
       import time

       time.sleep(5)

Code Walkthrough:

• Class Inheritance: ToDoAppTest inherits from StaticLiveServerTestCase → runs a local Django test server at self.live_server_url.
• setUp (before each test): Configures Chrome browser options (–disable-gpu, –no-sandbox, optional headless), initializes Chrome browser with self.browser = webdriver.Chrome(…), and manages ChromeDriver automatically via ChromeDriverManager().install().
• tearDown (after each test): Closes the browser using self.browser.quit().
• Test_add_multiple_tasks: Opens the To-Do application in Chrome, adds tasks from a list by typing and submitting each, waits for tasks to appear and verifies all tasks are displayed, and pauses briefly for visual inspection.

Output:To execute the tests, run the following command:

$python manage.py test

After confirming the app works locally, the next step is scaling it for a larger user base or production environment. This involves configuring the app for performance, security, and stability.

Running Web Development Project at Scale

Scaling your Django To-Do application ensures it can handle increased traffic and multiple users while maintaining performance and reliability.

Testing across multiple devices and browsers is essential to ensure a consistent user experience.

Cloud-based platforms like TestMu AI enable Python automation testing to run parallel tests without managing local setups, making scaling and cross-browser validation more efficient.

TestMu AI is a GenAI-native test execution platform that allows you to perform manual and automated tests at scale across 3000+ browsers and OS combinations.

To get started with running your test at scale on TestMu AI, please follow the steps.

• Download TestMu AI Tunnel (LT): Visit the TestMu AI tunnel downloads page and download the binary compatible with your operating system (Mac, Linux, or Windows).
• Make the Binary Executable (Mac/Linux): Open a terminal and navigate to the directory containing the binary using cd /path/to/directory and make the file executable using chmod +x LT.
• TestMu AI Credentials: Set your TestMu AI Username and Access Key as environment variables. To get your credentials, go to Accounts Settings > Password Security tab and copy your Username and Access Key.
• Run the Tunnel: Start the TestMu AI tunnel using your credentials.

$ ./LT --user <your-username> --key <your-access-key> --tunnelName django-tunnel

• Get Capabilities: Use the Automation Capabilities Generator to generate the required TestMu AI capabilities for your test configuration, such as OS, browser, and browser version.

Code Implementation:

from django.contrib.staticfiles.testing import StaticLiveServerTestCase
from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
from selenium.webdriver.common.keys import Keys
from selenium.webdriver.support import expected_conditions as EC
from selenium.webdriver.support.ui import WebDriverWait

class ToDoAppLambdaTestDevices(StaticLiveServerTestCase):
    """Run Django Selenium tests on LambdaTest across devices"""

    def run_test_on_device(self, lt_options):
        username = "YOUR_USERNAME"  # Replace with your LambdaTest username
        access_key = "YOUR_ACCESS_KEY"  # Replace with your LambdaTest access key

        options = webdriver.ChromeOptions()
        options.set_capability("LT:Options", lt_options)

        browser = webdriver.Remote(
            command_executor=f"https://{username}:{access_key}@hub.lambdatest.com/wd/hub",
            options=options,
        )

        try:
            # Open ToDo app
            browser.get(self.live_server_url + "/todo/")  # Update path if different

            tasks_to_add = ["Buy milk", "Walk the dog"]

            for task in tasks_to_add:
                # Wait for the input box and add task
                input_box = WebDriverWait(browser, 10).until(
                    EC.presence_of_element_located((By.NAME, "task"))
                )
                input_box.clear()
                input_box.send_keys(task)
                input_box.send_keys(Keys.RETURN)

                # Verify task appears in the task-list
                WebDriverWait(browser, 10).until(
                    EC.text_to_be_present_in_element((By.ID, "task-list"), task)
                )

            # Collect all tasks and assert they exist
            task_list = browser.find_element(By.ID, "task-list")
            tasks = task_list.find_elements(By.TAG_NAME, "li")
            task_texts = [t.text for t in tasks]

            for task in tasks_to_add:
                assert task in task_texts

        finally:
            browser.quit()

    def test_desktop_chrome(self):
        lt_options = {
            "build": "Django ToDo Cross-Device Tests",
            "name": "Desktop Chrome Test",
            "platformName": "Windows 11",
            "browserName": "Chrome",
            "browserVersion": "latest",
            "selenium_version": "4.19.0",
            "tunnel": True,
            "tunnelName": "django-tunnel",
        }
        self.run_test_on_device(lt_options)

    def test_mac_safari(self):
        lt_options = {
            "build": "Django ToDo Cross-Device Tests",
            "name": "Mac Safari Test",
            "platformName": "macOS Ventura",
            "browserName": "Safari",
            "browserVersion": "latest",
            "selenium_version": "4.19.0",
            "tunnel": True,
            "tunnelName": "django-tunnel",
        }
        self.run_test_on_device(lt_options)

Code Walkthrough:

• Class Inheritance: ToDoAppTestMu AIDevices inherits from StaticLiveServerTestCase and runs a local Django test server at self.live_server_url. Purpose: Runs Selenium tests on TestMu AI across multiple devices and browsers.
• run_test_on_device(self, lt_options): Connects to TestMu AI using username and access_key, configures Chrome options, sets capabilities via lt_options, opens the To-Do application, adds tasks, verifies tasks appear in <li> elements, and closes the browser.
• test_desktop_chrome(self): Runs the To-Do application on Windows 11 using Chrome, sets lt_options for platform, browser, version, and tunnel, then calls run_test_on_device(lt_options).
• test_mac_safari(self): Runs the To-Do application on macOS Ventura using Safari, sets lt_options for platform and browser, then calls run_test_on_device(lt_options).

Test Execution:Run the following command given below:

View results on TestMu AI by navigating to Automation > Web Automation.

To get started, follow this support documentation on Python testing using Selenium.

Challenges and Solutions in Python Web Development

The following are some of the challenges that developers usually face when working with Python for web development:

• Challenge 1: Steep Learning Curve: Some Python frameworks, such as Django and Pyramid, are complex frameworks that offer numerous features and tools. New developers usually find it challenging to learn and master Django’s features.

Solution: Start by learning the fundamentals of web development using Python with simpler frameworks such as Flask. Once you feel comfortable, you can gradually explore Django by building projects, reading the official Django documentation, and following tutorials.

• Challenge 2: Performance Optimisation: As your application grows, performance optimisation becomes critical. Common issues include slow database queries, increased load times, and inefficient rendering of data.

Solution: Web developers working in web development using Python need to optimise database queries, use caching, and minimise HTTP requests to ensure fast and efficient performance.

• Challenge 3: Security: Web applications are vulnerable to security threats, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). As a developer, you need to be aware of these threats and use best practices to secure your applications.

Solution: To secure your application, avoid writing raw SQL queries; use Django’s ORM, which uses parameterised queries to prevent SQL injection. Use CSRF tokens in your forms, and make sure to properly authenticate and authorise your REST APIs.

Best Practices for Python Web Development

Following best practices is essential for efficient and secure web development using Python. Adhering to these guidelines helps you write clean, maintainable, and robust code for your web applications.

• Follow the Don’t Repeat Yourself (DRY) Principle: Python web development frameworks, such as Django’s framework, are designed to encourage reusable code, which is essential in web development using Python.
• Variable Names: It is imperative to use descriptive and consistent variable names to make your code easy to read and understand.
• Use Framework’s Built-in Features: For example, when using Django, make use of Django’s built-in authentication and authorisation. Django provides secure and easy-to-use features that simplify web development using Python.
• Test Your Code: Testing is essential to ensure that your code works as expected.
• Input Validation: Validate and sanitise all user inputs to prevent common attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).
• Password Security: Store passwords securely using techniques like hashing and salting to protect user credentials.

Conclusion

Here you have learned the fundamentals of Python web development, including necessary tools, frameworks, and techniques. By following best practices, you’ll be well on your way to developing reliable and robust Python-powered web applications. Python web development is a broad area with many learning opportunities. Nevertheless, this tutorial will provide you with a solid basis for additional learning.

Citations

• Python’s Role in Accelerating Web Application Development with Django: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381969758
• Python For Web Development: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362517489