Drupal follows a modular architecture, which consists of several key components that work together to create a dynamic and extensible content management system. The main components of Drupal architecture are:
- Core : Drupal core is the foundation of the Drupal CMS and provides the basic functionalities such as content management, user management, and system administration. It includes the core modules and themes that are maintained by the Drupal community and are distributed with every Drupal installation.
- Modules : Modules are extensions that can be installed to add additional functionality to a Drupal site. Drupal has a vast ecosystem of contributed modules developed by the community, which can be used to enhance the core functionality of Drupal or to add new features to a site. Modules can be developed by anyone and can be contributed to the Drupal community for wider use.
- Themes : Themes in Drupal are responsible for the visual appearance of a site. A theme determines how the content and other elements of a Drupal site are displayed to the end users. Drupal supports the use of multiple themes, and users can switch between different themes to change the look and feel of their site.
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- Content Types and Fields : Drupal allows users to define custom content types, which are used to define the structure and layout of content on a site. Content types define the different types of content that can be created, such as articles, pages, events, etc. Fields are used to define the different types of data that can be associated with a content type, such as text, images, dates, etc.
- Taxonomy : Drupal has a built-in taxonomy system that allows users to create vocabularies and categorize content using terms. Taxonomy provides a way to classify and organize content on a site, making it easier to manage and find related content.
- Database : Drupal uses a database to store content, configuration data, and other information related to a site. Drupal supports multiple databases such as MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, and SQLite, and uses an abstracted database layer that allows for flexibility in choosing a database system.
- APIs : Drupal provides various APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that allow developers to interact with the system and extend its functionality. APIs are available for areas such as content management, user management, theming, caching, and more, and can be used to create custom modules and integrations with other systems.
- User Management : Drupal has a robust user management system that allows administrators to create and manage user accounts with different roles and permissions. Users can have different roles, such as anonymous users, authenticated users, or custom roles, and permissions can be assigned to control what actions users are allowed to perform on the site.
- Caching : Drupal includes a built-in caching system that helps improve the performance and scalability of a site by storing frequently used data in cache, reducing the need to fetch data from the database or regenerate content dynamically.
- Hooks : Hooks are a fundamental part of Drupal's extensibility. Hooks are predefined functions that are called at various points during the execution of Drupal, allowing modules to interact with the system, modify behavior, and extend functionality.
Overall, Drupal's architecture is designed to be modular, allowing for flexibility, extensibility, and customization to build complex websites and web applications. It provides a solid foundation for creating dynamic, content-rich websites with robust user management, customization options, and community-contributed modules and themes.