Definition:
Drupal is an open source content management platform, supporting a wide variety of websites ranging from personal blogs to large websites. The Drupal software package can be used by individuals or by a community of users to publish, manage and organize the content of a website.
The Drupal platform supports a number of features such as e-commerce, blogs, collaborative editing environments, forums, newsletters, podcasting, file uploading, and much more. Drupal is distributed under the GPL license (“GNU General Public License”), which allows its use, modification and distribution freely. Developed in PHP, Drupal offers users the ability to build various types of web projects, providing resources such as templates and modules that facilitate their use and allow for professional results.
Advantages of Drupal
Among the advantages offered by this CMS we can highlight the following:
- Advanced customization: Drupal allows the creation of highly customized websites, overcoming the limitations of other platforms such as WordPress, which often feature recognizable templates.
- Adaptability: Many users find that Drupal handles change more effectively than other CMS systems, offering better functionality across multiple platforms.
- Scalability: Drupal is ideal for projects that require continuous growth and expansion, as it can handle large volumes of traffic and content without compromising performance.
Internal structure of Drupal
Content management in Drupal is accomplished through several key components:
- Blocks: They help define the visual design of the site, allowing the placement of content in different areas of the page.
- Menus: Facilitate content organization and site navigation, allowing developers to implement a logical and accessible structure.
- Content types and taxonomy: They provide a system for classifying and referencing content, improving organization and search within the site.
Drupal offers a great deal of automation, simplifying tasks that would otherwise require manual tools such as HTML and CSS. This modular and flexible structure allows developers to create dynamic and functional websites with ease.
Drupal community and support
One of Drupal’s most outstanding strengths is its active and extensive community. This global community of developers, designers and users constantly contributes to the growth and improvement of the platform. The Drupal community offers:
- Contributed modules and themes: Thousands of modules and themes are available to extend the functionality and customize the design of Drupal sites, many of which are developed and maintained by the community.
- Extensive documentation: The community provides a wide range of documentation resources, tutorials and guides to help users learn and take full advantage of Drupal’s capabilities.
- Forums and events: Users can participate in online forums, discussion groups and community events such as DrupalCon, where they can share knowledge, solve problems and collaborate on projects.
Common uses of Drupal
Drupal is known for its flexibility and ability to adapt to a variety of use cases. Some of the most common uses of Drupal include:
- Corporate websites: Thanks to its scalability and security, Drupal is a popular choice for large enterprises that need robust and customizable websites.
- Government portals: Many government agencies use Drupal because of its ability to handle large volumes of data and its focus on security.
- Educational institutions: Universities and colleges choose Drupal for its ability to manage multiple sites and users, as well as its ease of integration with learning management systems.
- Online communities: Drupal is ideal for creating community platforms that require advanced user features such as forums and user profiles.
- E-commerce: With specific ecommerce modules, Drupal can be used to create online stores that offer personalized shopping experiences.
Examples of sites made with Drupal
Drupal is used by a wide variety of organizations around the world, from governments to universities to large enterprises. Here are some outstanding examples of websites built with Drupal:
- University of Oxford: One of the oldest and most respected universities in the world uses Drupal to manage its website, facilitating communication and access to academic resources.
- Tesla: The innovative automotive company uses Drupal for its website, which showcases its electric vehicles and sustainable energy technologies.
- Australian Government: Several Australian government departments use Drupal for their web portals, ensuring efficient management of public information and services.
- The Emmy Awards: The Emmy Awards uses Drupal for its website, offering information and news from the world of music.