Django 1.3: MEDIA_URL vs. STATIC_URL

Question

What does MEDIA_URL does now? I am particularly confused after I got "django.core.exceptions.ImproperlyConfigured: The MEDIA_URL and STATIC_URL settings must have different values".

I'd appreciate Django explaining why this is. Regards

Solnit

possible duplicate of What is the documented definition of MEDIA_ROOT, MEDIA_URL, STATIC_ROOT, STATIC_URL and ADMIN_MEDIA_PREFIX? – Lawn

Answer 1

MEDIA_URL is used to point to the base URL for user-generated content - uploaded images, files, that sort of thing.

STATIC_URL is used as the prefix for JavaScript, CSS, etc.

Solnit

I neither have nor want any MEDIA files and don't need a MEDIA_URL. However, I keep getting this error. Moreover, if I did have static media files I would definitely prefer to serve them from the same URL or a subdirectory thereof. This seems like a capricious and arbitrary restriction, without a satisfactory explanation. – Contradance

Answer 2

The answer doesn't explain the reasoning as to why. One of the nice things about Django is that it doesn't expose the back-end via the url.

Example:

/formmail.pl/search.php

But when it comes to the static files, I guess that doesn't matter. Very disappointing...

Redvers

Answer 3

Have a look at note number 2 on this page. There they explain why.

https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/dev/howto/static-files/

Schmuck

That's helpful. It is o.k. (and even encouraged) to summarize, quote or copy from a linked page, rather than simply posting the link. It's nice to not have to visit an external resource unless they need to, and also if the original page is removed, we end up with dead links. – Georgena