Categories Navbar using Dropdown - CS50W GMail Clone

In this session, I focused on implementing the Categories feature, and this is where the project started to feel more like a real application. I connected listings to categories using proper relationships. I displayed categories dynamically in the navigation. Each category was made clickable, leading to its own page. Listings were filtered based on the selected category, improving the overall browsing experience. This wasn’t just about adding a feature—it was about understanding how everything connects: models, views, templates, and URLs working together. Mistakes I encountered (and fixed along the way): * Template not rendering (TemplateDoesNotExist) * Missing context data in the view * Incorrect navbar structure for categories * Listings not showing due to filtering issues Each error helped deepen my understanding of Django, especially how data flows from backend to frontend. Key realization: This is the point where I shifted from just writing code to actually building a system. Journey progress: Before this — basic static structure After this — organized listings with real navigation and filtering Now the app feels closer to a real e-commerce platform.