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Custom User Model in Django

? Custom User Model in Django

? Quick Overview

Django provides a built-in User model for authentication. When application requirements go beyond the default fields, Django allows creating a custom user model using AbstractUser or AbstractBaseUser.

? Key Concepts

  • Default Django User model limitations
  • Extending users with AbstractUser
  • Fully custom users with AbstractBaseUser
  • Custom user managers

? Syntax & Theory

AbstractUser keeps all default fields and behavior while allowing additional fields.

AbstractBaseUser provides only authentication essentials and requires full implementation of user logic.

? Code Examples

? View Code Example (AbstractUser) 
# Extending Django's built-in User model
from django.contrib.auth.models import AbstractUser
from django.db import models

class CustomUser(AbstractUser):
birth_date = models.DateField(null=True, blank=True)
profile_picture = models.ImageField(upload_to='profile_pics/', null=True, blank=True)

# settings.py → AUTH_USER_MODEL = 'myapp.CustomUser'
? View Code Example (AbstractBaseUser) 
# Creating a fully custom user model
from django.contrib.auth.models import AbstractBaseUser, BaseUserManager
from django.db import models

class CustomUserManager(BaseUserManager):
def create_user(self, email, username, password=None):
if not email:
raise ValueError("Email is required")
user = self.model(email=email, username=username)
user.set_password(password)
user.save(using=self._db)
return user

def create_superuser(self, email, username, password=None):
user = self.create_user(email, username, password)
user.is_admin = True
user.save(using=self._db)
return user

class CustomUser(AbstractBaseUser):
email = models.EmailField(unique=True)
username = models.CharField(max_length=100, unique=True)
birth_date = models.DateField(null=True, blank=True)
is_active = models.BooleanField(default=True)
is_admin = models.BooleanField(default=False)

objects = CustomUserManager()
USERNAME_FIELD = 'email'
REQUIRED_FIELDS = ['username']

def __str__(self):
return self.username

# settings.py → AUTH_USER_MODEL = 'myapp.CustomUser'

? Live Explanation

The first approach is ideal for minor customization. The second is used when authentication logic itself must change, such as email-based login.

? Use Cases

  • Adding profile-related fields
  • Email-based authentication
  • Enterprise-level permission systems
  • Custom admin workflows

⚡ Interactive: Model Generator

Configure options below to see how the code structure changes dynamically.

# Generated code will appear here...

✅ Tips & Best Practices

  • Always define the custom user model at project start
  • Prefer AbstractUser unless full control is required
  • Never change user models after migrations

? Try It Yourself

  • Add a phone number field using AbstractUser
  • Implement email-only login with AbstractBaseUser
  • Create a custom admin panel for your user model