A database is like a digital filing cabinet that stores and organizes information in a structured way. Just like how you organize papers in different drawers of a filing cabinet, a database organizes data into tables. PostgreSQL is one of the most powerful and reliable database systems available. It's represented by an elephant mascot, symbolizing its strength and reliability in handling large amounts of data efficiently.
SQL is the standard language for communicating with databases. It uses commands like SELECT, WHERE, and ORDER BY to retrieve and manipulate data. However, writing raw SQL can be complex and error-prone. Django ORM acts as a translator between Python code and SQL. Instead of writing complex SQL queries, you can use simple Python methods. The ORM automatically converts your Python code into optimized SQL queries, making database operations much more intuitive and less prone to errors.
A server is a computer that provides services to other computers over a network. Think of it like a restaurant kitchen that receives orders from customers and prepares food to send back. In web development, a Django server receives requests from browsers and mobile apps, processes them, and sends back responses. The server often needs to communicate with a database like PostgreSQL to retrieve or store information. This request-response cycle is the foundation of how web applications work.
During development, you run your Django application on localhost, which means it's only accessible on your own computer at the address 127.0.0.1:8000. This is your private development environment where you can test and debug your code safely. When you're ready to share your application with real users, you deploy it to a production server. Production servers are connected to the internet and can be accessed by anyone with the right URL. Multiple users can access your application simultaneously from anywhere in the world. The deployment process involves moving your code from your local machine to these production servers.