What is Drupal headless solution?
Headless solutions are like separating the body (content management) from the head (front-end design), giving the head (front-end) the freedom to change without affecting the body. The headless Drupal solution entails using Drupal exclusively to manage content while creating APIs to make this content accessible. Developers utilize these APIs to retrieve data and construct the front end using flexible technology, ensuring scalability. The headless Drupal architecture is ideal for projects that require dynamic, adaptable interfaces and efficient Drupal API integration.
Why do we create a Drupal headless solution?
Creating a headless Drupal solution is advantageous for long-term planning and project flexibility. Additionally, for future planning, it allows for a seamless plan for mobile and iOS applications. Frequent or significant upgrades can be handled without breaking the system by opting for a headless Drupal solution. Such a solution operates based on APIs, making it easy to change front-end technologies like React.js or Vue.js for building the UI. Furthermore, the headless Drupal solution facilitates adaptation to technological changes and scaling as required.
Drupal headless solution with support of multiple Drupal versions
Thanks to the Drupal 10 migration guide, upgrading a website from Drupal 7 to Drupal 9 or from Drupal 8 to Drupal 10 can be done smoothly by migrating the Drupal upgrade. The migration ensures that no data is lost because all data is stored in the Drupal main database, while other containers only store data from the headless solution. The data remains secure throughout the upgrade process.
Headless Drupal separates the visitor-facing portion of your website from the content management system. This feature simplifies switching between different versions of Drupal and staying up-to-date with technological trends. It allows businesses to improve Drupal website development, effectively handling upgrades while keeping websites running smoothly.
Headless Drupal API solution integrates with Symfony framework
Visual aids are instrumental in grasping complex concepts. Below is a diagram illustrating the architecture:
At the core lies Drupal 9, the primary container seamlessly connected to the central database. Within Drupal 9, custom entities and content types are meticulously crafted, empowering administrators to enrich the platform’s functionality.
Craft Symfony framework APIs to smoothly handle the insertion, updating, and deletion of records from the chosen database.
The Symfony framework integrates with various versions of Drupal APIs. For instance, Symfony version 1 works seamlessly with Drupal 8, version 2 aligns with Drupal 9, and version 3 is geared towards Drupal 10. Depending on the Drupal version, custom Symfony APIs handle tasks like inserting, updating, and deleting data from individual Drupal databases.
If other headless Drupal instances need to update the central database, they can utilize a created API call within the Drupal save hook. This ensures that changes will be immediately reflected in the central database, streamlining the process. The Drupal content management APIs optimize the system for better functionality.
For more on optimizing Drupal website performance, check out this guide on tips to develop a faster website.
About August Infotech
August Infotech, a team of dedicated developers and software development service experts, excels in providing a headless Drupal solution that includes front-end development, API integration, and Drupal website development that caters to businesses needing adaptable and scalable web architectures. With expertise in Drupal front-end development, content management, and API integration, we have helped clients from various industries, including Financial Services, Private Equity, and Hospitals, efficiently manage their websites while ensuring a seamless experience during upgrades. Our offshore developers’ experience with a broad range of headless technologies allows us to guide organizations through website development and optimization.
