5 Ways To Fix Django Template Does Not Exist

Django is a powerful Python web framework that provides an excellent way to build scalable and maintainable web applications. One of the key features of Django is its templating engine, which allows you to separate the presentation layer of your application from the business logic. However, sometimes you may encounter an error that says "Django template does not exist." This error can be frustrating, especially if you are new to Django. In this article, we will explore five ways to fix this error and get your Django application up and running smoothly.

Understanding the Error

Before we dive into the solutions, it's essential to understand what causes the "Django template does not exist" error. This error typically occurs when Django's templating engine is unable to find a template file that you have specified in your code. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including typos in the template name, incorrect template directories, or missing template files.

Solution 1: Check the Template Name and Path

The first solution is to check the template name and path to ensure that they are correct. Make sure that the template file exists in the correct directory and that the file name matches the one specified in your code.

# views.py
from django.shortcuts import render

def my_view(request):
    return render(request, 'my_template.html')  # Check if my_template.html exists

In the above example, make sure that my_template.html exists in the correct directory. If you are using a custom template directory, ensure that it is included in the DIRS setting in your settings.py file.

# settings.py
TEMPLATES = [
    {
        'BACKEND': 'django.template.backends.django.DjangoTemplates',
        'DIRS': [os.path.join(BASE_DIR, 'templates')],  # Check if templates directory exists
        'APP_DIRS': True,
        'OPTIONS': {
            'context_processors': [
                'django.template.context_processors.debug',
                'django.template.context_processors.request',
                'django.contrib.auth.context_processors.auth',
                'django.contrib.messages.context_processors.messages',
            ],
        },
    },
]

Solution 2: Check the App's Template Directory

If you are using a Django app, make sure that the template file exists in the app's template directory. By default, Django looks for templates in the templates directory of each app.

# my_app/
    # templates/
        # my_template.html

In the above example, make sure that my_template.html exists in the templates directory of my_app.

Solution 3: Check the Template Loaders

Django uses template loaders to load templates from different sources. Make sure that the correct template loader is being used. By default, Django uses the django.template.loaders.app_directories.Loader template loader, which looks for templates in the templates directory of each app.

# settings.py
TEMPLATES = [
    {
        'BACKEND': 'django.template.backends.django.DjangoTemplates',
        'LOADERS': [
            'django.template.loaders.app_directories.Loader',  # Check if app_directories.Loader is used
        ],
        'APP_DIRS': True,
        'OPTIONS': {
            'context_processors': [
                'django.template.context_processors.debug',
                'django.template.context_processors.request',
                'django.contrib.auth.context_processors.auth',
                'django.contrib.messages.context_processors.messages',
            ],
        },
    },
]

Solution 4: Check for Typos

Typos can be a common cause of the "Django template does not exist" error. Make sure that the template file name and path are spelled correctly.

# views.py
from django.shortcuts import render

def my_view(request):
    return render(request, 'my_templete.html')  # Check for typos

In the above example, my_templete.html should be my_template.html.

Solution 5: Check the Template File Extension

Make sure that the template file has the correct file extension. By default, Django looks for templates with the .html extension.

# my_app/
    # templates/
        # my_template.htm  # Check if the file extension is correct

In the above example, my_template.htm should be my_template.html.

Gallery of Django Template Errors

Django Template Errors

We hope that this article has helped you to fix the "Django template does not exist" error. Remember to always check the template name and path, app's template directory, template loaders, typos, and template file extension. If you are still encountering issues, feel free to ask in the comments below.