Drupal 11.0.0 has officially launched, marking an exciting milestone for current users and those considering switching to Drupal. This latest version brings a host of enhancements that make the platform more flexible, user-friendly and secure.

Drupal 11 has streamlined many aspects of content management, from building features via its user interface to custom coding. If you’re transitioning from an older version like Drupal 7, you’ll notice significant improvements. The updated admin interface, efficient content editing, and advanced theming options offer a refreshed and powerful experience.

The official Drupal 11 landing page invites users to "build the web better." With a range of new tools and features, Drupal 11 is ready to support this goal. While some exciting innovations are already available, more are expected in future updates like Drupal 11.1 and 11.2. As always, Drupal continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

What Sets Drupal 11.0.0 Apart from Drupal 10.3?

Drupal 11.0.0 is set to be released shortly after Drupal 10.3. While Drupal 10.3 introduced several features similar to those in Drupal 11, it retains some older compatibility options to facilitate smoother upgrades. Both Drupal 11.0.0 and Drupal 10.3.2, the latest update to Drupal 10, share the same features and APIs, allowing for more seamless integration of modules and themes in both versions

The main updates in Drupal 11.0.0 include:

• Removal of old code, including certain modules and topics.
• upgrading dependencies, ensuring that they are in the new versions.
• Updated platform requirements, including PHP, databases, composer, and supported browsers.

These changes aim to streamline the platform’s functionality and compatibility, reflecting ongoing improvement and modernization.

Drupal 11: What’s new?

Drupal 11 introduces cutting-edge technology that sets the stage for exciting new features, enhancing both the content author experience and the overall functionality of the platform.

Here are a look at some of the outstanding improvements in Drupal:

For CMS Users

CKEditor Autoformat:

The updated CKEditor 5, Drupal's integrated WYSIWYG editor, now features an autoformat option. This tool automatically formats lists and titles as you type. In addition, Markdown shortcuts are supported, allowing you to streamline the editing process without going through menus.

Refurbished Field User Interface

Content modeling and management have been significantly streamlined with various enhancements to the user interface, making it more intuitive and user-friendly

Enhanced Performance:

Drupal now has several performance improvements, including BigPipe for faster page loading and support for lazy image loading. PHP 8.3, required for Drupal 11, further enhances security, performance, and support capabilities, providing faster performance than previous PHP versions.

Project Announcements:

Stay updated with the latest Drupal news, updates and events thanks to this handy feature.

Stable Workspaces:

This feature is a game changer for content editors. This allows you to create and stage new sections of your website, so that they go live when they are ready. The Workspaces module supports staging, publishing and previewing content changes in bulk, so that scenarios such as election results can be quickly prepared and published

New access policy:

Website API access now considers additional conditions beyond permissions and roles. This includes factors such as two-factor authentication and activity step limits, making access management more flexible and secure.

Classification Step Revision and Moderation:

Classification now includes a visual interface for revision management, enabling users to easily view, revert and delete changes.

For Developers

Single Directory Components:

The new Single Directory Components feature makes it simpler to locate and reuse components throughout your site. This update streamlines front-end development, making the process more efficient and organized.

Decoupled Menus with Linkset:

With dedicated endpoints based on the Linkset standard, navigation between different content elements becomes more straightforward. This enhancement benefits front-end developers as well as users managing content, simplifying the overall user experience.

Improved Block Management:

Block management has been made more optimized. You can now create and manage custom blocks directly from the Structure section of the administrative interface, providing more flexibility and control.

A Glimpse at Upgrading Your Website to Drupal 11

Dries Buytaert, the founder of Drupal, eagerly upgraded his website to Drupal 11 in just six hours. Despite being an experienced developer with a relatively simple site, this quick upgrade underlines how easy the process has been.

Upgrading to Drupal 11 involves several important steps:

Verify environmental requirements

Make sure your setup meets new requirements, including PHP 8.3, Drush 13, and compatible database versions.

Update to the latest Drupal 10 version

Bring your Drupal 10 site up to date with the latest release (Drupal 10.3).

Update contributed modules:

Ensure that all contributed modules are updated.

Clean up custom modules

Remove obsolete code from your custom modules.

Execute the upgrade

Upgrade to Drupal 11 .

To streamline the process, the tools can help you assess the compatibility of your website components with Drupal 11 and provide valuable insights. The Deprecation Status page offers a convenient overview of contributed projects' readiness for Drupal 11.

For a smooth and trouble-free transition to Drupal 11, consider consulting a professional Drupal partner.

The Final Words

Drupal is setting new standards in delivering exceptional digital experiences. Since the days of Drupal 7, we’ve seen significant improvements. With the introduction of Drupal 8, an update has streamlined the path further, and the transition to Drupal 12 promises to be even smoother. Looking ahead, as Drupal 11 continues to evolve, we anticipate exciting advancements with each new mini-version released every six months. We’re excited about the future of Drupal and look forward to exploring what’s in store for Drupal 11 and beyond.