Open In App

Download button to download data stored in the database using Django

Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025
Comments
Improve
Suggest changes
Like Article
Like
Report

In this article, We will guide you through the process of adding download buttons to retrieve data stored in the database using Django. Whether you are building a content management system, or an e-commerce system, allowing users to download data is a common and essential feature.

Setting up the Project

To install Django follow these steps.

Starting the Project Folder

To start the project use this command

django-admin startproject dload 
cd dload

To start the app use this command

python manage.py startapp filedownloadapp

Now add this app to the 'settings.py'

File Structure

0000001
Project structure

Implementing a download button in Django to fetch database data is a great feature. To master this and other advanced concepts in Django, the Django Web Development Course offers extensive coverage.

Setting up the Files

models.py: To store files with file title, and file itself we need a database table. In filedownloadapp/models.py file create Cheatsheet folder. This defines we need title and its length should be max 100. file and the path to store the file. Whenever file gets re uploaded uploaded_at field also gets updated with the current time.

Python 
from django.db import models
class Cheatsheet(models.Model):
    title = models.CharField(max_length=100)
    file = models.FileField(upload_to='cheatsheets/')
    uploaded_at = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)

    def __str__(self):
        return self.title

views.py: To show and download files we need to add some function procedures. Add this into filedownloadapp/views.py file.Here, two functions we have created. Cheatsheet function will render all files., and other download_cheatsheet is our downloading buttons function.

Python 
from django.shortcuts import render, HttpResponse
from .models import *
from django.http import FileResponse
from django.shortcuts import get_object_or_404
from .models import Cheatsheet

def download_cheatsheet(request, cheatsheet_id):
    cheatsheet = get_object_or_404(Cheatsheet, pk=cheatsheet_id)
    file_path = cheatsheet.file.path
    response = FileResponse(open(file_path, 'rb'))
    response['Content-Type'] = 'application/octet-stream'
    response['Content-Disposition'] = f'attachment; filename="{cheatsheet.title}"'
    return response

def cheatsheet(request):
    files = Cheatsheet.objects.all()
    print(files)
    context = {
        'files' : files
    }
    return render(request, './home.html', context)

settings.py: Below is the required settings to add in Settings.py. and a simple Html template code. The template file will render all uploaded files on page with download button link.

Python 
# first we should register our application
INSTALLED_APPS = [
   "........................."
    'filedownloadapp'
]

# create a folder inside base project named it as "templates". Add its name into dir.
TEMPLATES = [
    {
        'BACKEND': 'django.template.backends.django.DjangoTemplates',
        'DIRS': ['templates'],
        'APP_DIRS': True,
        'OPTIONS': {.......}
]

# setup database 
DATABASES = {
    'default': {
        'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.sqlite3',
        'NAME': BASE_DIR / 'db.sqlite3',
    }
}

# Add media settings 
import os
MEDIA_URL = '/media/'
MEDIA_ROOT = os.path.join(BASE_DIR, 'media')

Creating GUI

home.html: The template file will render all uploaded files on page with download button link.

HTML 
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>Download Programming Cheatsheets</title>
</head>
<style>
    .container {
        width: 500px;
        height: 100%;
        margin: 0 auto;
        display: flex;
        flex-direction: column;
        justify-content: center;
    }

    .card{
        width: 100%;
        height: auto;
        border-radius: 10px;
        border: 1px dashed black;
        padding: 1rem;
        margin-top: 10px;
    }

    h1{
        text-align: center;
        font-size: 4em;
    }

    button{
        padding : 5px 5px;
        color: green;
    }

    a{text-decoration:none; color: inherit;}
</style>
<body>
    <div class="container">
        <h1>Cheatsheets</h1>
        {% for file in files %}
        <div class="card">
            <h2>{{file.title}}</h2>
            <button > <a href="{% url 'download_cheatsheet' file.id %}">Download</a></button>
        </div>
        {% endfor %}

    </div>
</body>
</html>

admin.py: We have defined the model and now register it into admin.py file.

Python 
from django.contrib import admin
from .models import *

admin.site.register(Cheatsheet)

Setting up Path

We have 2 folders one of it is base project dload and other is filedownloadapp. to pass the incoming request from the base project folder to app we will need to create urls.

dload/urls.py: Here we defining app URL path.

Python 
from django.contrib import admin
from django.urls import path, include
from django.conf import settings
from django.conf.urls.static import static
# add into dload/urls.py

urlpatterns = [
    path('admin/', admin.site.urls),
    path('', include('filedownloadapp.urls'))
]
urlpatterns += static(settings.MEDIA_URL, document_root=settings.MEDIA_ROOT)

filedownloadapp/urls.py: Here we defining all the URL paths.

Python 
from django.contrib import admin
from django.urls import path
from . import views
# add into filedownloadapp/urls.py

urlpatterns = [
    path('', views.cheatsheet, name="cheatsheet"),
    path('download/<int:cheatsheet_id>/',
         views.download_cheatsheet, name='download_cheatsheet'),
]

Deployement of the Project

Run these commands to apply the migrations:

python3 manage.py makemigrations
python3 manage.py migrate

Run the server with the help of following command:

python3 manage.py runserver

Output

makeMigrate_

superuser


runserver


Next Article
Python Introduction

K
kunalp143
Improve
Article Tags :
Practice Tags :

Similar Reads

We use cookies to ensure you have the best browsing experience on our website. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understood our Cookie Policy & Privacy Policy
Lightbox