Flask CRUD App Tutorial: Build a Web App with Python and Flask

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Introduction: Why Learn Flask CRUD Development?

Flask is a lightweight, flexible, and beginner-friendly Python web framework that makes it easy to build web applications quickly. One of the most common and practical web development projects is a CRUD application—which stands for Create, Read, Update, Delete.

Whether you’re just starting with Python or looking to build full-stack applications, mastering Flask CRUD apps is a critical skill. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a Python-based CRUD application using Flask, add authentication with Flask-Login, and connect to a MySQL database for persistent storage.

What is Flask web using Python?

Flask is a micro web framework written in Python. It’s called a “micro” framework because it doesn’t include tools and libraries like a database abstraction layer or form validation by default—but you can easily add these via extensions.

Key Features of Flask:

• Lightweight and modular
• Built-in development server and debugger
• RESTful request dispatching
• Support for secure cookies
• Extensible with third-party plugins

Flask is ideal for beginners due to its simplicity and powerful enough for advanced users building APIs or large web apps.

What is the R in CRUD?

CRUD stands for:

• Create: Add new records
• Read: Retrieve existing data
• Update: Modify data
• Delete: Remove data

The “R” in CRUD refers to the ability to read or retrieve data from a database. CRUD forms the foundation of nearly every web application.

How to start with Flask?

Step 1: Set Up Your Environment

python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate  # or venv\Scripts\activate on Windows
pip install Flask flask-mysqldb flask-login

Step 2: Project Structure

flask_crud_app/
├── app.py
├── templates/
│   ├── home.html
│   ├── login.html
│   ├── dashboard.html
├── static/
├── models.py
├── forms.py
└── config.py

How to build a CRUD application using Flask?

1. Create a Simple Flask App

from flask import Flask
app = Flask(__name__)

@app.route('/')
def home():
    return 'Welcome to the Flask CRUD App!'

if __name__ == '__main__':
    app.run(debug=True)

2. Add a Database (MySQL)

Configure MySQL in config.py:

MYSQL_HOST = 'localhost'
MYSQL_USER = 'root'
MYSQL_PASSWORD = 'yourpassword'
MYSQL_DB = 'crud_db'

Then, use flask_mysqldb to connect in app.py.

3. Implement CRUD Functions

Create a models.py to handle database operations:

def create_user(cursor, name, email):
    cursor.execute("INSERT INTO users (name, email) VALUES (%s, %s)", (name, email))

Use Flask routes to create, display, update, and delete users via web forms.

How to add authentication to your app with Flask login digitalocean?

Add Flask-Login

pip install flask-login

In app.py:

from flask_login import LoginManager, login_user, login_required, logout_user
login_manager = LoginManager()
login_manager.init_app(app)

Protect Routes

@app.route('/dashboard')
@login_required
def dashboard():
    return render_template('dashboard.html')

Integration with DigitalOcean

When deploying to DigitalOcean, ensure your environment variables and database configs are secure. Use services like Managed Databases to scale.

How to design a CRUD API?

Use Flask’s Blueprint and flask-restful for a RESTful API.

pip install flask-restful

from flask_restful import Resource, Api
api = Api(app)

class UserAPI(Resource):
    def get(self, user_id):
        # Retrieve user
    def post(self):
        # Create user
api.add_resource(UserAPI, '/api/user/<int:user_id>')

Flask crud app tutorial for beginners

This tutorial is tailored for beginners who want to build their first web app using Flask. With clear steps, code snippets, and guidance, you’ll go from setting up your environment to creating a full-featured app with user authentication and MySQL integration.

flask-crud app github

Explore ready-made Flask CRUD apps on GitHub to speed up your learning:

• python-crud project GitHub
• Flask CRUD example GitHub
• Full-stack Flask app

Python CRUD application

A Python CRUD application performs the four basic operations—Create, Read, Update, Delete—on data stored in a database, typically via a web interface. Using Flask simplifies this process thanks to its lightweight structure and extensibility.

Python REST API CRUD example using Flask and MySQL

1. Use pymysql or flask-mysqldb to interact with MySQL
2. Design REST endpoints for all CRUD actions
3. Return JSON responses using jsonify

@app.route('/api/users', methods=['GET'])
def get_users():
    cur = mysql.connection.cursor()
    cur.execute("SELECT * FROM users")
    users = cur.fetchall()
    return jsonify(users)

Python CRUD web application example

Combining Python, Flask, and MySQL, you can build a web application where users can register, log in, and manage records (like posts, contacts, etc.). Flask templates and Bootstrap can enhance the UI.

Flask CRUD API

Use Flask to create RESTful APIs that interact with a MySQL or SQLite database. These APIs enable frontend apps or third-party tools to perform CRUD operations remotely.

python-crud project github

Find real-world examples of Python CRUD projects:

• Simple CRUD App with Flask and SQLite
• REST API CRUD with Flask and SQLAlchemy

Flask CRUD example

Here’s a quick example route to delete a user:

@app.route('/delete/<int:id>')
def delete_user(id):
    cur = mysql.connection.cursor()
    cur.execute("DELETE FROM users WHERE id = %s", (id,))
    mysql.connection.commit()
    return redirect('/users')

Interactive Coding Challenge

Try It Yourself

Write a function in Flask to update a user’s information by ID. Here’s a starter:

@app.route('/update/<int:id>', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
def update_user(id):
    # Your code here
    return redirect('/users')

Can you complete this function? Comment below or share your solution!

Conclusion: Start Building Your Own Flask CRUD App Today!

Flask makes web development with Python incredibly approachable, and CRUD apps are the perfect way to learn full-stack fundamentals. In this guide, you’ve learned how to set up a Flask project, integrate MySQL, build out a full CRUD system, and even protect it with user authentication.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

• Clone a Flask CRUD GitHub project
• Deploy your app using DigitalOcean
• Learn Flask-RESTful for scalable API design

Share this guide, leave a comment, and follow us for more hands-on Python tutorials!

• Official Flask Documentation
• Flask-Login GitHub
• MySQL Documentation

Tags: Flask CRUD, Python Web App, Flask Login, REST API, Flask Tutorial, MySQL, DigitalOcean, flask-crud app GitHub, flask beginner tutorial