Named routes in Django: what they are, how to use them, and why they simplify your code

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We already know how to use Django Admin for data management, the next step is to learn about routes; path routing in a web application allows defining where a client's requests will be processed; specifying a route or URI to a specific template in Django.

When you develop a web application in Django, paths (URLs) are the entry point for all requests. But naming them correctly goes far beyond organizing your code: it can save you hours of confusion and errors.

Naming our paths in our Django projects is one of the features that modern frameworks like CodeIgniter, Laravel... and of course Django have, which apart from working with MVC (or variants like the MTV) always has another kind of pseudo layer, which is the paths layer, which we use to make the match between the URLs or URIs and the controller component that is responsible for processing the user's request.

I learned this when migrating a large project where changing one URL broke dozens of links. Since then, I never create a path without a name.

What are named paths in Django and what are they for

In Django, every URL you define in the urls.py file can have a name. This name allows you to reference the path without writing the literal URL, using that identifier both in templates and in views.

This is not exclusive to Django: frameworks like Laravel or CodeIgniter also do it. But in Django, the parameter name in path() and the attribute app_name are what give superpowers to your architecture.

For example:

# urls.py
app_name = "gestion"
urlpatterns = [
   path('', views.index),
   path('detail/<int:pk>', views.show, name="show"),
]

In the previous example, show is the name of the path, and gestion is the namespace (module or app name). This combination allows you to maintain order when working with multiple applications within the same project.

⚙️ How to define named paths step by step

We need to open the urls.py file of our app in Django and indicate an application name using the app_name, with this, we can reference the name we define for each of the paths by prefixing the app name followed by : and then the path name.

Finally, using name, we indicate the name of the path as a parameter of the path function.

In summary:

1. Open the urls.py file of your Django app.
2. Define app_name at the top.
3. Create your paths with the path() function and include the name parameter.

For example:

app_name="gestion"
urlpatterns = [
   path('',views.index),
   path('detail/<int:pk>',views.show, name="show"),
]

In this way, each path has a unique identifier.

Furthermore, if you change the URL in the future, you won't have to modify your templates or your redirects: everything will continue to work because Django resolves the name internally.

We define the name for the app (app_name="gestion") and for the example path (name="show").

How to reference paths by name in Django

Now, in our template, we can reference the name of the  path, followed by the parameters (in case it has parameters):

<a href="{% url 'gestion:show' p.id %}">View</a>

And from a view, in case you want to redirect to another view, you can do something similar:

def update(request, pk):
   product = get_object_or_404(Product, pk=pk)
   ...
return redirect('gestion:show',pk=pk)

You can also use reverse() to get the URL from anywhere in your Python code:

from django.urls import reverse
url = reverse('blog:post_detail', args=[42])
print(url)  # /post/42/

Good practices and common errors

✅ Use clear conventions

Follow the format:

• app_name:view_name
• Example: gestion:show, blog:post_detail, shop:cart_add.

⚠️ Avoid common errors

• Duplicating names between apps.
• Forgetting to declare app_name.
• Changing a view without updating its name.

A typical error is forgetting the namespace, and ending up with conflicts when two apps use the same view name (index, home, etc.).

Naming things well from the start prevents headaches.

Complete example of an application with named paths for a post

urls.py

app_name = "gestion"
urlpatterns = [
   path('', views.index, name="home"),
   path('detail/<int:pk>/', views.show, name="show"),
]

views.py

from django.shortcuts import render, redirect, get_object_or_404
from .models import Product
def show(request, pk):
   product = get_object_or_404(Product, pk=pk)
   return render(request, "product_detail.html", {"product": product})
def update(request, pk):
   # ... lógica de actualización ...
   return redirect('gestion:show', pk=pk)

template.html

<a href="{% url 'gestion:show' product.id %}">View product</a>

This pattern allows you to move, refactor, or extend your project without breaking paths. Ideal for when you work in a team or manage multiple modules.

Conclusion: why using names in your paths is a good Django practice

Naming paths is a simple practice that provides maintainability, readability, and flexibility.

In my case, it saved me more than once when reorganizing an entire app without having to update dozens of links.

In summary:

• You forget about writing manual URLs.
• You redirect by name with ease.
• You avoid errors between apps with namespaces.

Django not only allows you to create paths… it gives you the freedom to manage them intelligently.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What does the parameter name do in Django?
It allows assigning a unique identifier to a path to reference it without writing the literal URL.

2. What is app_name and what is it for?
It defines a namespace to group paths within an application, avoiding conflicts between apps.

3. Can I use reverse() outside a view?
Yes, even in scripts or signals, as long as the Django configuration context is loaded.

4. What happens if two paths have the same name?
Django will use the first one found, which can cause unpredictable errors. Use namespaces to avoid this.

5. How to maintain order in large projects?
Organize your paths by module and assign descriptive names, e.g. users:login, orders:detail.

The next step is to learn how to do redirects.