OneToOneField or Custom User Model Substitution: Which Django User Model Extension is Right for My Project?

Extending Django's User Model: OneToOneField vs. Custom User Model Substitution

Extending the default Django User model allows for additional customization and functionality. This article discusses two primary approaches:

OneToOneField Profile Model

The Django-recommended method involves creating a OneToOneField relationship between the User model and another model that holds the custom fields. Known as a profile model, it's ideal for storing user-specific information that doesn't directly relate to authentication.

Custom User Model Substitution

This approach replaces Django's User model with a custom one. It's a drastic change, typically used when the built-in User model is insufficient for the project's authentication needs (e.g., using email as the username). However, this method requires modifications to Django's auth module and is not recommended for most scenarios. Copying or altering the actual User class in Django's source tree is also strongly discouraged.

Choosing Between the Approaches

The choice between the two methods depends on the project's requirements. If the custom data relates to the user's profile and is not relevant for authentication, the OneToOneField approach is preferable. However, if the authentication mechanism itself needs to be modified (e.g., using email as the username), the Custom User Model Substitution method may be necessary.

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