DEBUG mode behavior in Django - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does setting DEBUG = True do in a Django project?

It enables detailed error pages with debug information and auto-reloads the server on code changes. It should only be used during development.

beginner

Why should DEBUG be set to False in production?

Because detailed error pages can expose sensitive information to users, which is a security risk. Also, performance is better with DEBUG = False.

intermediate

What happens if DEBUG = True but ALLOWED_HOSTS is not set correctly?

Django will allow all hosts when DEBUG = True, but in production with DEBUG = False, ALLOWED_HOSTS must list allowed domains to prevent host header attacks.

intermediate

How does DEBUG = True affect static file serving in Django?

When DEBUG = True, Django automatically serves static files during development. When DEBUG = False, static files must be served by a web server or CDN.

intermediate

What is the impact of DEBUG = True on database queries?

Django logs detailed SQL queries and timing information in the debug toolbar or console, helping developers optimize queries during development.

What is the main purpose of setting DEBUG = True in Django?

A Improve production server performance

B Show detailed error pages and auto-reload during development

C Disable error messages

D Enable database backups

DEBUG = True shows detailed error pages and reloads the server automatically to help developers during development.

What risk does leaving DEBUG = True in production pose?

A Prevents database connections

B Slows down the server

C Disables static files

D Exposes sensitive information to users

Detailed error pages can reveal sensitive data, which attackers could exploit.

When DEBUG = False, what must be properly configured to avoid errors?

A INSTALLED_APPS

B DATABASES

C ALLOWED_HOSTS

D STATIC_URL

ALLOWED_HOSTS must list allowed domains to prevent host header attacks when DEBUG is False.

How does Django handle static files when DEBUG = True?

A Django serves static files automatically

B Static files must be served by a web server

C Static files are disabled

D Static files are compressed

Django serves static files automatically during development when DEBUG is True.

Which tool benefits from DEBUG = True by showing SQL queries?

A Django Debug Toolbar

B Django Admin

C Django ORM

D Django Migrations

The Django Debug Toolbar shows detailed SQL queries and timings when DEBUG is True.

Explain what happens when you set DEBUG = True in a Django project and why it is useful during development.

Think about how developers find and fix errors quickly.

Describe the security and configuration considerations when switching DEBUG from True to False in Django.

Focus on what changes to keep the site safe and working.