Where should I store database queries in Django?

The Django business logic dilemma?

In general, it’s a good practice to keep your code organized and modular. If your view code includes complex database queries or large amounts of database-related logic, it might be a good idea to move those queries to a separate file, such as a Django model or manager.

Here are some reasons why you might want to do this:

1. Separation of concerns: By moving your database queries to a separate file, you can keep your view code focused on handling HTTP requests and responses, while your database-related logic is in a separate module.
2. Reusability: If you need to perform the same or similar database queries in multiple views or other parts of your application, having them in a separate file can make it easier to reuse that code.
3. Testing: Separating your database queries from your views can make it easier to test your code, since you can test the queries independently of the view logic.

okay then, should I write custom functions representing my database queries in a separate file or in the models.py or create them as managers functions?

It depends on the nature and complexity of your database queries.

If your queries are simple and can be expressed using the Django ORM’s built-in query API, it’s generally best to define them in your models.py file as model methods or manager methods. This keeps your code organized and makes it easy to reuse the queries across different views or other parts of your application.

However, if your queries are more complex and cannot be expressed using the built-in query API, it might make sense to define custom functions in a separate file. This can help keep your models.py file focused on defining your data models, while your custom query functions are in a separate module.

Another consideration is whether your custom query functions need to interact with other parts of your application or use application-specific logic. If so, it might make sense to define them as part of your application’s business logic layer, rather than as part of the data access layer.

In summary, the decision to define custom query functions in a separate file or in the models.py file should be based on the nature and complexity of the queries, as well as your application’s specific requirements and design patterns.

That being said, there is no hard and fast rule that you must separate your database queries from your views. If your queries are relatively simple and your view code is easy to read and maintain, it might make sense to keep them together. Ultimately, the decision to separate your queries or not should be based on your application’s specific requirements and your own preferences as a developer.