DRF vs Server‑Rendered Django (HTMX)

When building web applications with Django, there are two dominant architectural styles:

1. API‑first architecture using Django Rest Framework (DRF)
2. Server‑rendered architecture using Django Templates + HTMX

Both are valid. Both are powerful. But they solve different problems.

1. High‑Level Architectural Philosophy

DRF Architecture (API‑First)

“The backend exposes data. The frontend decides how to render it.”

• Backend returns JSON
• Frontend is a separate client (React, Next)
• Clear separation between frontend and backend

Django + HTMX Architecture (Server‑Rendered)

“The server owns the UI. JavaScript only enhances it.”

• Backend returns HTML
• Templates live on the server
• HTMX requests HTML fragments

2. Component Comparison