Week#2

Introduction to Web Development and

Python,HTTP and Web Servers:
Understanding Requests and Responses

Subtitle: Course: Web Programming with Python

Instructor Name: [Nosheen Iqbal]
Course Code: [ABC-111]
Date : 10-09-2024
Agenda

 What is Web Development?  What is HTTP?

 Role of Python in Web Development  How the Web Works: Client-Server
 Types of Web Applications Model
 Introduction to Python Frameworks:  HTTP Requests and Methods
Flask and Django  HTTP Responses and Status Codes
 Tools and Environment Setup  Introduction to Web Servers
 Case Study: Popular Python-Based  Practical Demo: Python Web Server
Web Applications
What is Web Development?

 Definition: The process of building websites or web applications accessible over

the internet.
 Key Aspects:
 Front-end: Client-side development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript).
 Back-end: Server-side logic, databases, and APIs.
 Full-stack: Both front-end and back-end.
The Evolution of Web Development

 Timeline:
Static websites → Dynamic websites → Web applications.
 Trends:
From traditional server-based websites to micro services and server less architectures.
Why Python for Web Development?

 Key Points:
 Versatile & Powerful: Easy to read, write, and maintain.
 Rich Ecosystem: Extensive libraries and frameworks for web development.
 Efficiency: Python reduces development time with its robust frameworks (Flask, Django).
 Community Support: Strong, active community for continuous improvement.
Python in Web Development

 Use Cases:
 Server-side scripting.
 API development.
 Database interaction.
 Handling asynchronous tasks (e.g., Celery, FastAPI).
Types of Web Applications

 Static Websites: Simple, fixed content.

 Dynamic Websites: Content generated on the server.

 Single Page Applications (SPA): Interact with the server via APIs without page reload.

 Progressive Web Applications (PWA): Web apps with native app features.
Introduction to Flask and Django

 Flask: A lightweight, micro-framework for building small to medium applications.

 Advantages: Simple, flexible, minimalistic.

 Use Cases: Prototypes, small web apps, APIs.

 Django: A high-level web framework that encourages rapid development.

 Advantages: Built-in features (ORM, admin panel), scalability, security.

 Use Cases: Large-scale applications, content management systems (CMS).

Flask vs Django

Feature Flask Django

Framework Type Micro-framework Full-stack framework
Fully loaded (ORM, admin,
Built-in Features Minimal, requires extensions
etc.)
Learning Curve Easy for beginners Steeper learning curve
Use Case Small to medium projects Large, complex applications
Tools and Environment Setup

•Python: Install Python 3.x.

•Virtual Environment: Use venv or virtualenv to manage dependencies.
•Code Editor: VSCode, PyCharm, or Sublime Text.
•Package Manager: pip for installing libraries.
•Version Control: Git for code management
What is Syntax?

 In simplest words, Syntax is the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-
formed sentences in a language. In the case of a computer language, the syntax is
the structural arrangement of comments, variables, numbers, operators, statements,
loops, functions, classes, objects, etc. which helps us understand the meaning or
semantics of a computer language.
Python Comments

Single line comments

 A comment is a part of the coding file that the programmer does not want to
execute, rather the programmer uses it to either explain a block of code or to avoid
the execution of a specific part of code while testing.

Example :
Multi-Line Comments

 To write multi-line comments you can use ‘#’ at each line or you can use the multiline
string.
 Example: The use of ‘#’
Python Variables

 Variables are containers that store information that can be manipulated and referenced
later by the programmer within the code.
 In python, the programmer does not need to declare the variable type explicitly, we just
need to assign the value to the variable.

Example:
Cont.
 It is always advisable to keep variable names descriptive and to follow a set of
conventions while creating variables:
 Variable name can only contain alpha-numeric characters and underscores (A-z, 0-9, and
_)
 Variable name must start with a letter or the underscore character.
 Variables are case sensitive.
 Variable name cannot start with a number.
 Scope of variable:

The scope of the variable is the area within which the variable has been created. Based on this a
variable can either have a local scope or a global scope.
 Local Variable:
A local variable is created within a function and can be only used inside that function. Such a
variable has a local scope.
 Example:
Global Variable

 A global variable is created in the main body of the code and can be used anywhere
within the code. Such a variable has a global scope.
 Example:
 if Statement:
 A simple if statement works on following principle,
 execute the block of code inside if statement if the expression evaluates
True.
 ignore the block of code inside if statement if the expression evaluates
False and return to the code outside if statement
 Example:
 if-else Statement
 An if……else statement works on the following principle,
 execute the block of code inside if statement if the expression evaluates
True. After execution return to the code out of the if……else block.
 execute the block of code inside else statement if the expression evaluates
False. After execution return to the code out of the if……else block.
 Example:
Nested if Statement

 We can use if, if….else, elif statements inside other if statements.

What is HTTP?

 Definition: Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is a protocol used for communication

between clients (browsers) and servers on the web.

 Role: The foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web.

 Characteristics:

 Stateless: Each request is independent of the previous one.

 Application Layer Protocol: Operates on the top of the TCP/IP stack.

The Client-Server Model

 How It Works:
 Client: Sends requests (usually via a browser) to a server.
 Server: Responds to requests by delivering resources (HTML, JSON, etc.).
 Diagram of the Interaction:
 Client (Browser) → HTTP Request → Server (Web Application)
 Server (Web Application) → HTTP Response → Client (Browser
HTTP Requests

 Components of an HTTP Request:

 Request Line: Contains the HTTP method, the resource path, and HTTP version.

 Headers: Key-value pairs that convey additional information (e.g., content type, user agent).

 Body (Optional): Contains data being sent to the server (used in POST, PUT, etc.).
Web Servers

 Definition: A web server is a software that serves content over the web, often running web
applications.

 Common Web Servers:

 Apache: One of the oldest and most widely used web servers.

 NGINX: Known for its performance, used for serving static files and acting as a reverse proxy.

 Python’s Built-in HTTP Server: Great for testing and small-scale applications.
The Role of Web Servers in the HTTP
Process

 Handling Requests: Web servers receive incoming requests and delegate them to the
appropriate backend logic (e.g., Flask or Django application).

 Returning Responses: After processing, the server sends the response back to the client