Drupal Modules

Drupal websites are built with and powered by, Drupal modules. There are three different types of Drupal modules – core, contributed, and custom. Core modules are included with your original Drupal download and can be turned on or off without the need to download any additional components. Contributed modules must be downloaded independently and added to your website. Examples of contributed modules are Panels, Views, or Metatag. Custom Drupal modules are modules you write yourself. This requires extensive knowledge of Drupal’s API and PHP Programming. Modules are the easiest way to add new and useful features to your Drupal website without directly touching the codebase. The best part about Drupal modules? They’re all free!

What is a Module?

A Drupal module is a collection of files that contain code that extends Drupal functionality by adding new features. The code is built to execute within the context of the site, meaning it can use all the functions and access all variables and structures of the Drupal core. 

Where Are Modules Found?

The quickest (and most cost effective) way to extend Drupal’s functionality beyond core is to employ contributed modules. Contributed modules are packages of code created by the Drupal community and they can be downloaded and added to your website for free. Drupal’s website catalogs an exhaustive list of available modules, and these bundles of code can be downloaded directly from the module’s page on drupal.org. They are available in both tar.gz and .zip format, both of which can be unpacked after adding the module to your web server.

Why Are Modules Useful?

Modules are packages of code that enhance and extend the functionality of a base Drupal installation. The Drupal package is referred to as Drupal Core, and Drupal 9 comes prepackaged with over seventy core modules and nine themes. All of these core modules can be viewed in the /modules directory. This collection of core modules was vetted by the Drupal community in advance of Drupal 7’s release (January 2011) and they were determined to contain the base functionality most Drupal site administrators would need. Any functionality beyond this can be added by a developer or through contributed modules.