The Python micro-framework known for simplicity and often used for small web applications is Flask.
Flask is a lightweight web framework created by Austrian programmer Armin Ronacher and first released in 2010. It is called a microframework because it keeps the core deliberately small rather than bundling every feature needed for a full-stack application. Flask handles essentials such as routing, requests, responses, and templating while allowing developers to add capabilities through extensions.
Its foundation includes Werkzeug, a WSGI utility library, and Jinja, a templating engine. Flask does not require a built-in database abstraction layer, form system, or authentication package, which gives developers flexibility but means they must choose additional tools for larger projects.
Flask’s name is a play on Bottle, another Python web framework, and the project reportedly began as an April Fool’s joke before becoming a serious release. A common mix-up is Django: Django is also popular and written in Python, but it is generally described as a more full-featured web framework. Flask is especially suited to prototypes, small sites, APIs, and services whose architecture benefits from minimal built-in structure.