What does Django REST Framework add on top of Django?

Defines DRF as an API toolkit layered on Django rather than a replacement framework.

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Django REST Framework is a toolkit for building HTTP APIs on Django. It adds API-aware request and response objects, parsers and renderers, serializers, authentication and permission hooks, throttling, pagination, generic views, ViewSets, routers, and a browsable API. Django still provides the underlying web application, settings, middleware, URL dispatch, ORM, and deployment integration.

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A clear distinction between Django web foundations and DRF API abstractions.

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Overview
DRF builds API-specific contracts and policy hooks on Django's request, routing, model, and middleware foundations.
Django REST Framework is a toolkit for building HTTP APIs on Django. It adds API-aware request and response objects, parsers and renderers, serializers, authentication and permission hooks, throttling, pagination, generic views, ViewSets, routers, and a browsable API. Django still provides the underlying web application, settings, middleware, URL dispatch, ORM, and deployment integration.
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The main value is a consistent API boundary. Serializers define input and output representations, API views run policy checks and convert supported exceptions, and content negotiation selects a renderer. Generic views and ViewSets remove conventional CRUD plumbing when the workflow fits. They are optional layers, however; forcing a complex use case through automatic model CRUD can hide authorization, loading, and transaction decisions.

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Calling DRF a separate web server or replacement for Django.
Treating ModelSerializer and ModelViewSet as a complete architecture.
Assuming authentication hooks define every authorization rule.

What does Django REST Framework add on top of Django?

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