Can you explain the key differences between FastAPI and Flask and why you would choose FastAPI over Flask?
FastAPI and Flask are both Python web frameworks, but they differ significantly. FastAPI is built on Starlette for web routing and Pydantic for data validation, which allows it to offer high performance compared to Flask. It also supports modern functionalities like async and await keywords.
FastAPI automatically generates interactive API documentation using OpenAPI and JSON Schema standards, a feature not present in Flask. This makes it easier to test and debug APIs during development.
FastAPI’s use of Python type hints leads to better editor support, error checking, and refactoring capabilities. In contrast, Flask lacks this feature, making code maintenance more challenging.
The choice between FastAPI and Flask depends on the project requirements. For applications requiring high performance, modern asynchronous features, automatic API documentation, or extensive use of data validation, FastAPI would be the preferred choice over Flask due to its advanced features and superior performance.
