Creating a Website with Drupal

Building your own website may seem daunting at first, but with Drupal (an open-source CMS) you can create robust, flexible websites with ease.

Many individuals and organizations worldwide trust Drupal to manage everything from personal blogs to large news portals. If you want a website that combines power, customization, and user-friendliness, learning about Drupal is the perfect place to start.

Recent studies show that content management systems (CMS) power over 70% of all websites, and Drupal sits among the top choices, especially for sites that require secure and flexible structures. Understanding why Drupal is so widely used not only helps you appreciate its features, but also gives you confidence when choosing it for your own site.

Understanding Drupal: Features and Benefits

What is Drupal?

Drupal is an open-source CMS designed to help users create, manage, and organize digital content. The term “open-source” means that anyone can access, use, and modify Drupal’s core code. This makes Drupal a cost-effective solution appealing to individuals, businesses, schools, and even governments.

Drupal stands out for its incredible flexibility and modular structure. Unlike some drag-and-drop site builders, Drupal lets you add features and change layouts through modules. There are currently over 50,000 Drupal modules available, each offering a new feature – from calendars to social media feeds.

Key Features Explained

Drupal offers a powerful combination of tools that help create and manage content. Here are some essential features explained in plain language:

• User Management: You can set different roles for users, controlling who can view, edit, or manage content. For instance, you might create separate accounts for administrators, writers, and visitors.
• Flexible Content Types: If you want to publish blog posts, news articles, portfolios, or products, Drupal lets you create custom content types and fields for each.
• Security: With over one million websites using Drupal, its active security team responds quickly to threats. In fact, numerous government agencies around the world rely on Drupal’s security features.
• Multilingual Capabilities: Drupal supports over 100 languages, helping users build international websites with ease.
• Community Support: A global network of developers contributes improvements, shares advice, and provides documentation. This means help is never far away.

Drupal’s first version appeared in 2001, and since then, it has evolved steadily to meet modern web demands. While some believe Drupal is only for seasoned programmers, its tools and visual editing features mean beginners can also succeed.

Why Choose Drupal Over Other CMS Options?

While WordPress leads in overall popularity, Drupal excels in flexibility and scalability. Many institutions use Drupal for complex sites that must support many users and custom designs.

For example, Harvard University and the Government of Canada both use Drupal for their public websites. If you value long-term growth and security, Drupal is an excellent choice.

Setting Up Drupal with Softaculous

What is Softaculous?

If installing software sounds intimidating, Softaculous makes it simple. Softaculous is a popular auto-installer available in many web hosting control panels.. Think of it as an app store or a one-click installation wizard for websites. Softaculous powers millions of site installations every year, allowing users to launch CMS platforms like Drupal in minutes.

• Change Your Theme: Drupal themes control the look and feel of your website. You can browse and install themes right from your admin panel.
• Add Modules: Think of modules as apps for your website—adding contact forms, event calendars, or image galleries.
• Structure Content: Set up menus and taxonomy (categories and tags) to organize information for visitors.

Many beginners find Drupal’s interface similar to building with blocks. You start by laying the foundation, then add rooms and decorations one piece at a time. This modular approach means you aren’t limited by templates; you can shape your site exactly how you want.

A website built with Drupal combines advanced features, high security, and the freedom to create unique content. For those who value flexibility, Drupal is a CMS that adapts as your needs grow.

Thanks to tools like Softaculous, even first-time site builders can install and launch a Drupal website in just a few clicks. Whether you’re creating a blog, portfolio, or community hub, Drupal gives you control and options at every step.