Static files in development in Django - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to add static files URL pattern in development.

Django

from django.conf import settings
from django.conf.urls.static import static

urlpatterns = [
    # your url patterns here
] + static(settings.STATIC_URL, document_root=[1])

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Asettings.MEDIA_ROOT

Bsettings.STATIC_ROOT

Csettings.TEMPLATES

Dsettings.BASE_DIR

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using MEDIA_ROOT instead of STATIC_ROOT

Forgetting to import static from django.conf.urls.static

In development, static files are served from settings.STATIC_ROOT using static() helper.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the setting to enable static files serving in development.

Django

DEBUG = [1]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

ATrue

B0

CFalse

DNone

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Setting DEBUG to False during development

Confusing DEBUG with other settings

Static files are served automatically by Django only when DEBUG is True.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the static files URL pattern code.

Django

from django.conf.urls.static import static
from django.conf import settings

urlpatterns += static(settings.STATIC_URL, document_root=[1])

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Asettings.BASE_DIR

Bsettings.MEDIA_ROOT

Csettings.STATIC_ROOT

Dsettings.TEMPLATES_DIR

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using MEDIA_ROOT instead of STATIC_ROOT

Not importing static or settings properly

The document_root must point to STATIC_ROOT for static files, not MEDIA_ROOT or others.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a dictionary comprehension for static files sizes.

Django

sizes = {file: os.path.getsize([1]) for file in os.listdir([2])}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Aos.path.join('static', file)

Bos.path.join(settings.STATIC_ROOT, file)

Csettings.STATIC_ROOT

D'static'

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using string 'static' instead of STATIC_ROOT

Not joining directory and file name for getsize

To get file sizes, join the static root path with each file name and list files from STATIC_ROOT.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to filter static files by size greater than 1024 bytes.

Django

large_files = {file: size for file, size in sizes.items() if size [1] [2]

path = [3]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A>

B1024

Csettings.STATIC_ROOT

D<

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using < instead of > for filtering

Using wrong size value

Setting path to wrong directory

The code filters files with size greater than 1024 bytes and sets path to STATIC_ROOT.

Practice

1. What is the purpose of the STATIC_URL setting in a Django project during development?

easy

A. It defines the base URL to access static files like CSS and JavaScript.

B. It specifies the folder where Django stores uploaded media files.

C. It sets the database connection string for static content.

D. It enables automatic caching of static files in production.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of STATIC_URL

   STATIC_URL tells Django where to find static files when rendering pages, usually a URL prefix like '/static/'.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from other settings

   It is not related to media files, databases, or caching but specifically for static file URLs.

3. Final Answer:

   It defines the base URL to access static files like CSS and JavaScript. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   STATIC_URL = base URL for static files [OK]

Hint: STATIC_URL sets the web address prefix for static files [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing STATIC_URL with media file settings
• Thinking STATIC_URL controls file storage location
• Assuming STATIC_URL manages caching or databases

2. Which of the following is the correct way to include a static CSS file named styles.css in a Django template?

easy

A. <link href="/static/styles.css" rel="stylesheet">

B. <link href="/media/styles.css" rel="stylesheet">

C. <link href="{{ STATIC_URL }}styles.css" rel="stylesheet">

D. <link href="{% static 'styles.css' %}" rel="stylesheet">

Solution

1. Step 1: Use the {% static %} template tag

   In Django templates, static files should be included using the {% static %} tag to generate the correct URL.

2. Step 2: Check syntax correctness

   The correct syntax is <link href="{% static 'filename' %}" rel="stylesheet"> to load static files properly.

3. Final Answer:

   <link href="{% static 'styles.css' %}" rel="stylesheet"> -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Use {% static 'file' %} to link static files [OK]

Hint: Use {% static 'file' %} tag inside templates for static files [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Hardcoding /static/ path without {% static %} tag
• Using {{ STATIC_URL }} which is not available by default
• Confusing media URL with static URL

3. Given the following Django settings and template snippet, what URL will be rendered for the CSS file?

STATIC_URL = '/assets/'

<link href="{% static 'css/main.css' %}" rel="stylesheet">

medium

A. /static/css/main.css

B. /assets/css/main.css

C. /media/css/main.css

D. /css/main.css

Solution

1. Step 1: Check STATIC_URL value

   STATIC_URL is set to '/assets/', so all static file URLs start with this prefix.

2. Step 2: Apply {% static %} tag behavior

   The {% static 'css/main.css' %} tag prepends STATIC_URL to the path, resulting in '/assets/css/main.css'.

3. Final Answer:

   /assets/css/main.css -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   STATIC_URL + file path = rendered URL [OK]

Hint: STATIC_URL prefix + file path = final static file URL [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming default '/static/' prefix instead of custom '/assets/'
• Mixing media URL with static URL
• Ignoring STATIC_URL setting in templates

4. You added a static image file and referenced it in your template using {% static 'images/logo.png' %}, but the image does not show during development. Which is the most likely cause?

medium

A. You did not set MEDIA_URL correctly.

B. You forgot to run collectstatic during development.

C. The django.contrib.staticfiles app is not in INSTALLED_APPS.

D. The STATIC_URL setting is missing a trailing slash.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check staticfiles app presence

   Django serves static files in development only if 'django.contrib.staticfiles' is in INSTALLED_APPS.

2. Step 2: Understand collectstatic role

   collectstatic is for production; during development, staticfiles app handles serving automatically.

3. Final Answer:

   The django.contrib.staticfiles app is not in INSTALLED_APPS. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Missing staticfiles app blocks static serving [OK]

Hint: Ensure 'django.contrib.staticfiles' is in INSTALLED_APPS [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Running collectstatic unnecessarily in development
• Confusing MEDIA_URL with STATIC_URL
• Ignoring INSTALLED_APPS configuration

5. You want to serve static files from a custom folder named assets inside your Django app during development. Which combination of settings and template usage will correctly serve a CSS file assets/css/style.css?

Choose the correct settings and template snippet.

hard

A. In settings.py: STATICFILES_DIRS = [BASE_DIR / 'assets']In template: <link href="{% static 'css/style.css' %}" rel="stylesheet">

B. In settings.py: MEDIA_URL = '/assets/'In template: <link href="{% static 'css/style.css' %}" rel="stylesheet">

C. In settings.py: STATIC_ROOT = 'assets'In template: <link href="/assets/css/style.css" rel="stylesheet">

D. In settings.py: STATICFILES_DIRS = ['assets']In template: <link href="{% static 'css/style.css' %}" rel="stylesheet">

Solution

1. Step 1: Configure STATICFILES_DIRS correctly

   STATICFILES_DIRS should be a list of absolute paths; using BASE_DIR / 'assets' ensures correct path to the assets folder.

2. Step 2: Use {% static %} tag with relative path

   The template should use {% static 'css/style.css' %} to generate the URL, matching the folder structure inside assets.

3. Final Answer:

   In settings.py: STATICFILES_DIRS = [BASE_DIR / 'assets'] and in template: <link href="{% static 'css/style.css' %}" rel="stylesheet"> -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   STATICFILES_DIRS needs absolute path; use {% static %} for URLs [OK]

Hint: Use absolute path in STATICFILES_DIRS and {% static %} tag [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using relative path strings without BASE_DIR
• Confusing STATIC_ROOT with STATICFILES_DIRS
• Setting MEDIA_URL instead of STATICFILES_DIRS