Django Insert Data – Add Records to the Database with Django ORM (2025)

Introduction – What Does “Insert Data” Mean in Django?

In Django, inserting data refers to creating new records in your database using the Django ORM (Object-Relational Mapping). You can do this programmatically via Python code in views, Django shell, or admin—without writing SQL.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• How to insert data using Python
• How to use the Django shell and views
• How to insert via forms or admin panel
• Best practices for safe and efficient data creation

Step 1: Define Your Model

models.py

from django.db import models

class Post(models.Model):
    title = models.CharField(max_length=200)
    content = models.TextField()
    published = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)

    def __str__(self):
        return self.title

Run migrations:

$ python manage.py makemigrations
$ python manage.py migrate

Step 2: Insert Data Using Django Shell

$ python manage.py shell

Then:

from blog.models import Post
Post.objects.create(title='First Post', content='This is a blog post.')

This creates a new record instantly.

Step 3: Insert Data from a View

views.py

from django.http import HttpResponse
from blog.models import Post
from datetime import datetime

def insert_post(request):
    Post.objects.create(
        title='Inserted via View',
        content='This data was inserted from a Django view.',
        published=datetime.now()
    )
    return HttpResponse(" Data Inserted!")

Map to URL:

urls.py

from django.urls import path
from . import views

urlpatterns = [
    path('insert/', views.insert_post, name='insert-post'),
]

Visit http://localhost:8000/insert/ to trigger the data insertion.

Step 4: Insert via Django Admin Panel

Register your model:

admin.py

from django.contrib import admin
from .models import Post

admin.site.register(Post)

Start server and go to http://localhost:8000/admin/
Add posts using the user-friendly form UI.

Optional: Insert with Model Forms

Use Django’s form system for safe user-submitted data:

from django import forms
from .models import Post

class PostForm(forms.ModelForm):
    class Meta:
        model = Post
        fields = ['title', 'content']

Best Practices

• Always validate user input (especially from forms)
• Use ModelForm for user-created content
• Avoid inserting data in GET views (use POST for production)
• Use get_or_create() to avoid duplicates

Summary – Recap & Next Steps

Key Takeaways:

• Use Model.objects.create() to insert new records
• Insert via Django shell, view functions, admin, or forms
• Register models in admin for GUI-based insertion
• Secure user-submitted data with validation

Real-World Relevance:
Whether you’re building a blog, e-commerce store, or CMS—data insertion is the core of dynamic, interactive web apps.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between create() and save()?

create() = combines instantiation + save
save() = used after setting attributes manually

Can I insert bulk data at once?

Yes:

Post.objects.bulk_create([
    Post(title='Post 1', content='...'),
    Post(title='Post 2', content='...'),
])

Can I prevent duplicate entries?

Use:

Post.objects.get_or_create(title='Unique Title')

Should I insert data using views?

For testing, yes. In production, prefer POST with forms or APIs.

Is inserting via admin safe?

Yes. It includes built-in form validation and CSRF protection.