Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Python Django Forms Model Forms Using a Model Form

Nursultan Bolatbayev
Nursultan Bolatbayev
16,774 Points
Posted by Nursultan Bolatbayev
Nursultan Bolatbayev
16,774 Points

Dont we specify each attribute in Model forms?

I saw another examples, where in ModelForm it is created attribute for each form field. But here it is just included fields. Here what I mean: The video example

class QuizForm(forms.ModelForm):
  class Meta:
    model = models.Quiz
    fields = [
        'title', 
        'description',
        'order',
        'total_questions',
    ]

The examples which I saw:

class QuizForm(forms.ModelForm):
   title = forms.CharField(max_length=255)
   description = forms.TextField()
   #so on

   class Meta:
          model = models.Quiz

Any difference between them? or both are fine?

1 Answer

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points
Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points

The answer is Yes, we do specify each field attribute in a ModelForm. The difference is in how this is done. In the form, the field attributes can be defined explicitly as in your second example, or, they can be inferred by referencing which fields should get their attributes from the model specified in the Meta section.

In your first example, all of the desired fields are listed in the fields attribute of the Meta section. Meta signifies to the form constructor special instructions when building the form. In this case it lists the fields that should get their attributes from the model models.Quiz

Nursultan Bolatbayev
Nursultan Bolatbayev
16,774 Points
Nursultan Bolatbayev
Nursultan Bolatbayev
16,774 Points

Thanks for reply. Basically there is no difference between them?

Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points
Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points

There is a usage difference. To keep the code DRY (don't repeat yourself) the first example is preferred in that you don't specify the field type in the form if it can be discerned from the model definition.

Nursultan Bolatbayev
Nursultan Bolatbayev
16,774 Points
Nursultan Bolatbayev
Nursultan Bolatbayev
16,774 Points

aa, now I think I get it. If it is ModelForm we can just use fields from Model as first example. But when we create just Form not related to Model (e.g. 'contact us' form), then we do specify each attribute as second example, right?