Django CSRF Cookie Not Set Fix

In this tutorial, you'll learn about Django CSRF Cookie Not Set Fix. We cover key concepts, practical examples, and best practices.

The Problem

Django forms return 403 Forbidden with CSRF cookie not set. POST requests fail. No csrftoken cookie is sent.

Quick Fix

Step 1: Ensure CSRF middleware is enabled

MIDDLEWARE = [
    ...
    'django.middleware.csrf.CsrfViewMiddleware',
    ...
]

Step 2: Use {% csrf_token %} in forms

<form method="post">
    {% csrf_token %}
    {{ form.as_p }}
    <button type="submit">Submit</button>
</form>

Step 3: Include CSRF token in AJAX

function getCookie(name) {
    let cookieValue = null;
    if (document.cookie && document.cookie !== '') {
        const cookies = document.cookie.split(';');
        for (let i = 0; i < cookies.length; i++) {
            const cookie = cookies[i].trim();
            if (cookie.substring(0, name.length + 1) === (name + '=')) {
                cookieValue = decodeURIComponent(cookie.substring(name.length + 1));
                break;
            }
        }
    }
    return cookieValue;
}

fetch('/api/submit/', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'X-CSRFToken': getCookie('csrftoken') },
    body: JSON.stringify(data)
});

Step 4: Check HTTPS

CSRF_COOKIE_SECURE = True
CSRF_TRUSTED_ORIGINS = ['https://yoursite.com']

Step 5: Ensure cookie is set on GET

Make sure at least one form with {% csrf_token %} is on the page so the cookie gets set.

Prevention

• Always include {% csrf_token %} inside form tags.
• Use @csrf_exempt only on token-authenticated API endpoints.
• Set CSRF_TRUSTED_ORIGINS for all domains.

Common Mistakes with csrf cookie

1. Using return to exit a function early instead of wrapping a pure value in the monad
2. Mixing let bindings with <- bindings in do notation, producing type errors
3. Overlapping type class instances that cause GHC to reject the program with ambiguous dispatch errors

These mistakes appear frequently in real-world DJANGO code. DodaTech's contributors have identified these patterns through analysis of open-source projects and production systems.

Practice Exercise

Write a pure function that safely divides two integers using Maybe, then test it with edge cases like division by zero and negative numbers.

This exercise reinforces the concepts covered in this guide. Try implementing it before checking online solutions.

FAQ