Function-Based Views & Class-Based Views0%
Function-Based Views & Class-Based Views
Beginner12 min read•Updated: Jul 11, 2026
Function-Based Views & Class-Based Views
In Django REST Framework, you can build API endpoints using either Function-Based Views with the @api_view decorator or Class-Based Views inheriting from APIView. Choosing between them depends on whether your endpoint represents simple procedural logic or an object-oriented controller with reusable behaviors.
1. Function-Based Views with @api_view
The @api_view decorator wraps standard Python functions, giving them DRF superpowers:
- Parses incoming request bodies into
request.data. - Enforces permitted HTTP methods.
- Enables content negotiation (JSON vs Browsable API).
Python
# api/views.py
from rest_framework.decorators import api_view, permission_classes
from rest_framework.permissions import IsAuthenticated
from rest_framework.response import Response
from rest_framework import status
from .models import Product
from .serializers import ProductSerializer
@api_view(["GET", "POST"])
@permission_classes([IsAuthenticated])
def product_collection(request):
if request.method == "GET":
products = Product.objects.filter(is_active=True)
serializer = ProductSerializer(products, many=True)
return Response(serializer.data)
elif request.method == "POST":
serializer = ProductSerializer(data=request.data)
if serializer.is_valid():
serializer.save()
return Response(serializer.data, status=status.HTTP_201_CREATED)
return Response(serializer.errors, status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
2. Class-Based Views with APIView
APIView organizes HTTP methods into dedicated class methods (get(), post(), put(), delete()), eliminating messy if request.method == "..." branches:
Python
# api/views.py
from rest_framework.views import APIView
from rest_framework.response import Response
from rest_framework import status
from rest_framework.permissions import IsAuthenticated
from django.shortcuts import get_object_or_404
from .models import Product
from .serializers import ProductSerializer
class ProductDetailAPIView(APIView):
permission_classes = [IsAuthenticated]
def get_object(self, pk):
return get_object_or_404(Product, pk=pk)
def get(self, request, pk):
product = self.get_object(pk)
serializer = ProductSerializer(product)
return Response(serializer.data)
def patch(self, request, pk):
product = self.get_object(pk)
# partial=True enables partial PATCH updates!
serializer = ProductSerializer(product, data=request.data, partial=True)
if serializer.is_valid():
serializer.save()
return Response(serializer.data)
return Response(serializer.errors, status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
def delete(self, request, pk):
product = self.get_object(pk)
product.delete()
return Response(status=status.HTTP_204_NO_CONTENT)
3. Comparison Matrix
| Feature | @api_view (Functional) | APIView (Class-Based) |
|---|---|---|
| Code Organization | if/elif on request.method | Distinct def get(), def post() methods |
| Inheritance & Mixins | Not supported | Supported (OOP inheritance) |
| URL Registration | path("url/", views.my_view) | path("url/", views.MyView.as_view()) |
| Best Used For | One-off calculations, simple webhooks | Resource endpoints, CRUD logic, OOP reuse |
4. Understanding request.data
Unlike standard Django's request.POST (which only parses form-encoded data), DRF's request.data:
- Handles incoming JSON payloads (
application/json). - Handles standard form submissions (
multipart/form-data,application/x-www-form-urlencoded). - Handles file uploads transparently without inspecting
request.FILESseparately!
Interactive Quiz
Practice Quiz
Question 1
What does the @api_view(["GET", "POST"]) decorator do to a Python function?
Question 2
How does APIView separate HTTP method logic compared to @api_view?
Question 3
What advantage does DRF's request.data have over standard Django's request.POST?
Question 4
In an APIView patch method, what argument enables partial updates in the serializer?
Question 5
How must an APIView class be referenced inside a urls.py path pattern?
Next Lesson
Create, Retrieve, Update, Delete APIs
Continue learning with hands-on practice, examples, and exercises in the upcoming topic.
Related Lessons
| Previous Lesson | Next Lesson |
|---|---|
| Serializers Overview | Create, Retrieve, Update, Delete APIs |
Practice Quiz
Test your understanding of this lesson with 5 questions. Each question has one correct answer.