all(), get(), and filter()
The core ways to retrieve objects.
all(), get(), and filter() is a free Django Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 1 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Django Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Meet the Manager
Every model gives you a free objects manager. It is your front door to the database, and every query you write starts from it. 🚪
Book.objectsGrab Everything
Call all() to ask for every row in the table. You get back a QuerySet you can loop over, count, or refine further.
books = Book.objects.all()A QuerySet Is Not a List
A QuerySet looks list-like but it is lazy. Django waits to hit the database until you actually use the results.
Fetch Exactly One
Use get() when you expect a single matching row, like one record found by its primary key.
book = Book.objects.get(pk=1)When get() Fails
get() is strict. If nothing matches it raises DoesNotExist, so reach for it only when you are sure one row exists.
Book.objects.get(pk=999)Too Many Matches
If get() finds more than one row, it raises MultipleObjectsReturned. It truly means one and only one.
Filter for a Subset
Reach for filter() when you want the rows that match a condition. It returns a QuerySet, even if only one row matches.
Book.objects.filter(published=True)Filter Returns Zero or More
Unlike get(), filter() never raises when nothing matches. You simply get an empty QuerySet back instead of an error.
Book.objects.filter(author="Nobody")Multiple Conditions
Pass several keyword arguments to filter() and Django joins them with AND. Every condition must be true.
Book.objects.filter(published=True, year=2024)get vs filter at a Glance
Use get() for one guaranteed object and filter() for a collection. That single choice avoids most beginner query bugs.
Chain Your Filters
Because filter() returns a QuerySet, you can chain calls to narrow results step by step before the database is touched.
Book.objects.filter(published=True).filter(year=2024)Quick Check
You expect a single book and there is no match. Which call raises an error?
Recap
Nice work! all() grabs everything, get() fetches one exact row, and filter() returns a subset you can chain. 🎉
Frequently asked questions
Is the “all(), get(), and filter()” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “all(), get(), and filter()” is free to read here on the web, and the Django Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Django Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “all(), get(), and filter()”?
The core ways to retrieve objects. You practise Django Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Django Academy?
No prior experience is required. Django Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 1 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “all(), get(), and filter()” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Django Academy lesson?
Yes. Every Django Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- all(), get(), and filter()
- Field Lookups and exclude()
- order_by, Slicing, and Lazy Evaluation
- values, values_list, and count