Django LiveView

Django LiveView is a framework for creating real-time, interactive web applications entirely in Python, inspired by Phoenix LiveView and Laravel Livewire. It is built on top of Django Channels.

Build rich, dynamic user experiences with server-rendered HTML without writing a single line of JavaScript. Perfect for Django developers who want real-time features without the complexity of a separate frontend framework.

Here's a complete example: a button that loads the latest blog article with a single click.

HTML:

<button
    data-liveview-function="load_latest_article"
    data-action="click->page#run">
    Load Latest Article
</button>

<div id="article-container"></div>

Python:

from liveview import liveview_handler, send
from django.template.loader import render_to_string

@liveview_handler("load_latest_article")
def load_latest_article(consumer, content):
    # Get the latest article from database
    article = Article.objects.latest('published_at')

    # Render with Django templates
    html = render_to_string('article.html', {
        'article': article
    })

    # Send to frontend
    send(consumer, {
        "target": "#article-container",
        "html": html
    })

Result (after clicking the button):

<button
    data-liveview-function="load_latest_article"
    data-action="click->page#run">
    Load Latest Article
</button>

<div id="article-container">
    <article>
        <h2>Understanding Django Channels</h2>
        <p class="meta">Published on Dec 15, 2024 by Jane Doe</p>
        <p>Django Channels extends Django to handle WebSockets,
           long-running connections, and background tasks...</p>
        <a href="/blog/understanding-django-channels/">Read more</a>
    </article>
</div>

That's it! No page reload, no API endpoints, no REST, no GraphQL, no frontend framework. The article appears instantly via WebSocket. Just Python and Django templates working together in real-time.

• 🎯 Create SPAs without using APIs: No REST or GraphQL needed

• 🎨 Uses Django's template system to render the frontend (without JavaScript frameworks)

• 🐍 Logic stays in Python: No split between backend and frontend

• 🛠️ Use all of Django's tools: ORM, forms, authentication, admin, etc.

• ⚡ Everything is asynchronous by default: Built on Django Channels

• 📚 Zero learning curve: If you know Python and Django, you're ready

• 🔄 Real-time by design: All interactions happen over WebSockets

• 🔋 Batteries included: JavaScript assets bundled, automatic reconnection with exponential backoff

• 💡 Type hints and modern Python (3.10+)

• 📡 Broadcast support for multi-user real-time updates

• 🔐 Middleware system for authentication and authorization

Benchmarks show Django LiveView delivers the fastest response times among Django interactive frameworks:

Framework	Technology	Response Time	Data Transfer	Use Case
LiveView	WebSockets	9.35ms	450 bytes	Real-time dashboards, collaborative apps
HTMX	AJAX	16.48ms	~37 KB	Modern UX with minimal JavaScript
Unicorn	AJAX	26.76ms	~71 KB	Complex forms with reactive state
SSR	POST + redirect	47.25ms	~8.5 KB	SEO-critical pages, traditional CRUD

Django LiveView is approximately 43% faster than HTMX and 80% faster than traditional SSR through persistent WebSocket connectivity.

Technology Comparison

What makes it different?

Let's illustrate with an example: displaying article number 2.

1. A WebSocket connection (a channel) is established between the client and the server.

2. JavaScript sends a message via WebSocket to the server (Django).

   

3. Django interprets the message and renders the HTML of the article through the template system and the database.

4. Django sends the HTML to JavaScript via the channel and specifies which selector to embed it in.

   

5. JavaScript renders the received HTML in the indicated selector.

   

The same process is repeated for each action: clicking a button, submitting a form, navigating, etc.

Are you ready to create your first real-time SPA? Let's go to the Quick start.