APIView for custom endpoints in Django - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ component_behavior

intermediate

What is the output of this APIView GET method?

Consider this Django REST Framework APIView code. What will be the JSON response when a GET request is made?

Django

from rest_framework.views import APIView
from rest_framework.response import Response

class HelloView(APIView):
    def get(self, request):
        return Response({"message": "Hello, world!"})

A {"message": "Hello, world!"}

B {"error": "Method not allowed"}

C HTTP 404 Not Found

D HTTP 500 Internal Server Error

💡 Hint

Look at the return value inside the get method.

The get method returns a Response with a dictionary containing the message key. This results in a JSON response with {"message": "Hello, world!"}.

📝 Syntax

intermediate

Which option correctly defines a POST method in APIView?

You want to add a POST method to this APIView that returns the posted data back. Which code snippet is correct?

Django

from rest_framework.views import APIView
from rest_framework.response import Response

class EchoView(APIView):
    # Add POST method here

A

def post(self):
    return Response(request.data)

B

def post(self, request):
    return Response(request.data)

C

def post(request):
    return Response(request.data)

D

def post(self, request):
    return request.data

💡 Hint

Remember the method signature for APIView methods includes self and request.

Option B correctly defines the post method with self and request parameters and returns a Response wrapping request.data. Other options have wrong signatures or missing Response wrapper.

❓ state_output

advanced

What is the response status code of this APIView method?

Given this APIView code, what status code will the response have when a DELETE request is made?

Django

from rest_framework.views import APIView
from rest_framework.response import Response
from rest_framework import status

class ItemView(APIView):
    def delete(self, request):
        # pretend to delete an item
        return Response({"detail": "Deleted"}, status=status.HTTP_204_NO_CONTENT)

A 500

B 200

C 404

D 204

💡 Hint

Look at the status parameter in the Response.

The Response explicitly sets status=status.HTTP_204_NO_CONTENT, which corresponds to HTTP status code 204.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this APIView raise an error on GET?

This APIView raises an error when a GET request is made. What is the cause?

Django

from rest_framework.views import APIView
from rest_framework.response import Response

class FaultyView(APIView):
    def get(self):
        return Response({"msg": "Hi"})

A Missing 'request' parameter in get method

B Response is not imported

C Return value is not a dictionary

D APIView requires a post method

💡 Hint

Check the method signature for APIView methods.

APIView methods must accept self and request parameters. Missing request causes a TypeError when called.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

Which option correctly restricts APIView to only allow GET and POST methods?

You want an APIView that only accepts GET and POST requests and returns 405 Method Not Allowed for others. Which code snippet achieves this?

A

class MyView(APIView):
    def get(self, request):
        return Response({'msg': 'GET'})
    def post(self, request):
        return Response({'msg': 'POST'})
    def delete(self, request):
        return Response(status=405)

B

class MyView(APIView):
    allowed_methods = ['GET', 'POST']
    def get(self, request):
        return Response({'msg': 'GET'})
    def post(self, request):
        return Response({'msg': 'POST'})

C

class MyView(APIView):
    http_method_names = ['get', 'post']
    def get(self, request):
        return Response({'msg': 'GET'})
    def post(self, request):
        return Response({'msg': 'POST'})

D

class MyView(APIView):
    def dispatch(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
        if request.method not in ['GET', 'POST']:
            return Response(status=405)
        return super().dispatch(request, *args, **kwargs)

💡 Hint

Check the APIView attribute that controls allowed HTTP methods.

Setting http_method_names to ['get', 'post'] restricts the view to only those methods. Other options either use wrong attribute names or manually handle methods less cleanly.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of using APIView in Django REST Framework?

easy

A. To automatically generate database tables.

B. To manage user authentication without coding.

C. To style HTML templates.

D. To create custom endpoints by defining methods like get() and post().

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of APIView

   APIView allows you to write custom logic for handling HTTP requests by defining methods like get() and post().

2. Step 2: Compare other options

   Options A, C, and D describe unrelated tasks like database management, styling, or authentication without coding, which APIView does not do automatically.

3. Final Answer:

   To create custom endpoints by defining methods like get() and post(). -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   APIView = custom HTTP methods [OK]

Hint: APIView is for custom HTTP methods like get/post [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking APIView auto-generates database tables
• Confusing APIView with template rendering
• Assuming APIView manages authentication alone

2. Which of the following is the correct way to import APIView and Response in a Django REST Framework view?

easy

A. from django.views import APIView
from django.http import Response

B. from rest_framework.views import APIView
from rest_framework.response import Response

C. import APIView from rest_framework
import Response from rest_framework

D. from rest_framework.api import APIView
from rest_framework.api import Response

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall correct import paths

   APIView is imported from rest_framework.views and Response from rest_framework.response.

2. Step 2: Check other options for errors

   from django.views import APIView from django.http import Response uses django.views and django.http which do not provide APIView or DRF Response. import APIView from rest_framework import Response from rest_framework uses invalid import syntax. from rest_framework.api import APIView from rest_framework.api import Response uses wrong module paths.

3. Final Answer:

   from rest_framework.views import APIView from rest_framework.response import Response -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Correct import paths = from rest_framework.views import APIView from rest_framework.response import Response [OK]

Hint: APIView from views, Response from response module [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Importing APIView from django.views
• Using incorrect import syntax
• Importing Response from wrong module

3. Given this APIView code, what will be the HTTP status code in the response?

from rest_framework.views import APIView
from rest_framework.response import Response

class HelloView(APIView):
    def get(self, request):
        return Response({"message": "Hello!"}, status=201)

medium

A. 201 Created

B. 404 Not Found

C. 200 OK

D. 500 Internal Server Error

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the status code in Response

   The Response is returned with status=201, which means Created.

2. Step 2: Match status code to HTTP meaning

   201 means resource created successfully, so the response status will be 201 Created.

3. Final Answer:

   201 Created -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Status=201 means Created [OK]

Hint: Check status argument in Response call [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming default 200 OK without checking status
• Confusing 201 with 404 or 500
• Ignoring the status parameter in Response

4. Identify the error in this APIView code snippet:

from rest_framework.views import APIView
from rest_framework.response import Response

class MyView(APIView):
    def post(self, request):
        data = request.data
        return Response(data, status=200)

    def get(self):
        return Response({"msg": "Hello"})

medium

A. The get method is missing the request parameter.

B. The post method should not return a Response.

C. The status code 200 is invalid in Response.

D. request.data is not accessible in APIView.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check method signatures

   In APIView, all HTTP methods must accept self and request parameters. The get method lacks the request parameter.

2. Step 2: Validate other statements

   Returning Response in post is correct. Status 200 is valid. request.data is accessible in APIView.

3. Final Answer:

   The get method is missing the request parameter. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   All HTTP methods need request parameter [OK]

Hint: Check method parameters: self and request required [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting request parameter in methods
• Thinking status=200 is invalid
• Believing request.data is unavailable

5. You want to create a custom APIView that accepts a POST request with JSON data containing a number, doubles it, and returns the result with status 200. Which code snippet correctly implements this?

hard

A. class DoubleView(APIView):
def get(self, request):
num = request.data.get('number')
result = num * 2
return Response({'result': result}, status=200)

B. class DoubleView(APIView):
def post(self, request):
num = request.data['number']
result = num + num
return Response({'result': result}, status=201)

C. class DoubleView(APIView):
def post(self, request):
num = request.data.get('number')
result = num * 2
return Response({'result': result}, status=200)

D. class DoubleView(APIView):
def post(self):
num = request.data.get('number')
result = num * 2
return Response({'result': result}, status=200)

Solution

1. Step 1: Check method and parameters

   POST method must be defined with self and request parameters. class DoubleView(APIView): def post(self, request): num = request.data.get('number') result = num * 2 return Response({'result': result}, status=200) correctly defines post(self, request).

2. Step 2: Validate data access and response

   class DoubleView(APIView): def post(self, request): num = request.data.get('number') result = num * 2 return Response({'result': result}, status=200) safely uses request.data.get('number') and multiplies by 2. It returns Response with status=200 as required.

3. Step 3: Review other options

   class DoubleView(APIView): def post(self, request): num = request.data['number'] result = num + num return Response({'result': result}, status=201) uses status=201 (wrong status). class DoubleView(APIView): def get(self, request): num = request.data.get('number') result = num * 2 return Response({'result': result}, status=200) uses get method instead of post. class DoubleView(APIView): def post(self): num = request.data.get('number') result = num * 2 return Response({'result': result}, status=200) misses request parameter in post method.

4. Final Answer:

   class DoubleView(APIView): def post(self, request): num = request.data.get('number') result = num * 2 return Response({'result': result}, status=200) -> Option C

5. Quick Check:

   POST with request param, multiply, status=200 [OK]

Hint: POST method with request param, multiply, return status 200 [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using get method instead of post
• Missing request parameter in method
• Returning wrong status code
• Accessing request.data incorrectly