Django REST API as backend and ReactJS as frontend integration

Question

I'm learning ReactJS and I already have experience with Django and DRF. My aim right now is to build a rather simple web application based on a Django backend and a ReactJS frontend. (Later on, when the web app is done, I'll tackle React Native).
I've been reading tons of documentation but nothing has sorted out the question:

What is the best approach to integrate a Django backend with a ReactJS frontend?

Should I keep them separate and connect them or should I mount ReactJS inside the Django application? Which one is the best-suited approach, taking into account maintenance and further development?
Thank you very much! Any opinion/hint will be appreciated.

Possible duplicate of How to get Django and ReactJS to work together? — Gudarzi
– Gudarzi, Commented Jul 28, 2018 at 7:27

Edwin Harly · Accepted Answer · 2018-07-28 07:19:15Z

1

My approach would be make an app called frontend or anything you like in Django, then all of my React code will be placed inside that app. You will also need webpack to bundle your React code then with collectstatic command Django will collect all the static files so it could be served. You can find the tutorial here

answered Jul 28, 2018 at 7:19

Edwin Harly

4391 gold badge5 silver badges13 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

3 Comments

Giulia Over a year ago

Thank you for your answer! My doubt is: in case I want to develop other frontend apps that uses the same backend (such as a mobile app with React Native), will the approach suggested still be ok? Or would it be better to completely separate backend and frontend?

Edwin Harly Over a year ago

@Giulia Sure ! REST API could be consume from anywhere, mobile apps or web apps it doesn't matter. The reason I choose to place the React code inside Django is because I can reduce from 2 repos to 1 repo only. And for some reason if you still want to separate them, it's completely fine.

Giulia Over a year ago

Thanks! For some reason it seemed to me that separating them completely was better in terms of flexibility and future development, but from your answer I can see that's not the case. So I'll have React inside Django which is likely to be a little easier right now. Thank you very much!

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Django REST API as backend and ReactJS as frontend integration

1 Answer 1

3 Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

3 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related