Difference Between fields and read_only_fields in ModelSerializer Last Updated : 09 Jan, 2025 Summarize Comments Improve Suggest changes Share Like Article Like Report In Django REST Framework (DRF), ModelSerializer simplifies creating API endpoints by automatically mapping our model's fields to the API. You can customize the data shown with two important attributes: fields, which define which fields to include, and read_only_fields, which ensures certain fields can only be viewed and not modified.Table of ContentWhat is fields?What is read_only_fields ?Key Differences of fields and read_only_fields What is fields?The fields attribute in Django REST Framework allows you to select specific model fields to include in your API response. By default, all fields from the model are shown, but you can customize it to display only the necessary data.What is read_only_fields ? The read_only_fields attribute lists the fields that can only be viewed in the API response but cannot be changed by the user. This ensures that these fields are protected from modification in POST, PUT, or PATCH requests.Key Differences of fields and read_only_fields Featurefieldsread_only_fieldsPurposeDetermines which fields are included in the response.Specifies fields that are read-only.Default BehaviorAll fields are included by default.No fields are read-only by default.ModificationClients can modify fields specified in fields.Clients cannot modify fields specified in read_only_fields.Use CasesExposing a subset of fields for performance or security reasons.Protecting sensitive or calculated fields from modification.ConclusionBy understanding the fields and read_only_fields attributes, you can effectively control which data is exposed through your DRF API endpoints and ensure that sensitive or calculated fields are protected from unauthorized modifications. Comment More infoAdvertise with us Next Article Difference Between fields and read_only_fields in ModelSerializer M manindar_kumar_singh Follow Improve Article Tags : Python Python Django Practice Tags : python Similar Reads Difference between Relational model and Document Model The relational model organizes data into tables with rows and columns, ideal for structured data. On the other hand, the document model stores data in hierarchical documents, which offers more flexibility for managing unstructured or semi-structured data. Both models serve different purposes in data 3 min read Difference Between Serializable and Externalizable in Java Serialization The process of writing the state of an object to a file is called serialization, but strictly speaking, it is the process of converting an object from java supported form into a file-supported form or network-supported form by using fileOutputStream and objectOutputStream classes we can implement se 6 min read Difference between disabled and readonly attribute in HTML In this article, we will see the basic difference between the disabled & readonly attributes in HTML, along with understanding through the basic examples. Both disabled and readonly attributes in HTML are used to restrict user input in form fields. They only differ in how they restrict input and 3 min read Difference Between Serializable and Parcelable in Android Android is a mobile operating system developed by Google and it is used by millions of people all over the world. Android is open-source software and is widely popular for its user-friendly interface and flexibility. The Android platform supports two different ways of transferring data between activ 2 min read How to Add a Custom Field in ModelSerializer in Django A key component of Django Rest Framework (DRF) is the Serializer, which converts complex data types like Django models into JSON, XML, or other content types. The ModelSerializer, a subclass of Serializer, automatically creates fields based on the model’s fields, significantly reducing boilerplate c 4 min read Like