Drupal Decoupled and Headless: All you need to Know

Traditional Drupal websites leveraged Drupal for both content rendering on the front end and content management on the back end as it wasn’t possible to separate the two. This implies that Drupal significantly affected their styling which wasn’t always appreciated. However, today companies have the complete freedom to separate their site’s Drupal-based backend from the frontend through headless Drupal. 

This new and innovative Drupal decoupled approach has bestowed websites with an added layer of functionality and immense customization capabilities. Developers can freely opt for the front end of their choice and ensure that the site possesses the desired styling. The front end communicates with the backend through an API. This blog digs into Drupal's headless architecture in detail and discusses why it is so effective. 

What Makes Headless Drupal so Effective?

Today, a majority of companies prefer Drupal decoupled architecture to offer a phenomenal user experience while tapping into the unfathomable potential of Drupal tools. Given below are some advantages of Drupal headless architecture that make it worthwhile. 

Multiple channels for content display

In today’s digital world, businesses can thrive only if they engage in multi-channel communication with consumers. Drupal Headless is highly potent for multi-channel content management as it empowers marketing teams to effortlessly push content on multiple platforms and increase their digital presence effectively. Besides, by serving content on the frontend side through API, Drupal decoupled caters to all types of consumers including mobile users, desktop users, IoT users, and tablet users.

Intuitive user experience

Drupal’s combination with the frontend JavaScript framework takes its capabilities for data storage and content creation to a whole new sphere. The best part is that this combination results in the development of front-end applications that offer an intuitive experience and are easy to use. Are you already feeling the urge to tap into the incredible potential of Drupal headless and offer your customers the kind of intuitive experience they never witnessed earlier? 

Dynamic frontend management

With Drupal headless architecture, you can be more dynamic when it comes to the management of front-end technologies. There is no need for you to re-architect massive Drupal backends. Development teams know what a blessing it is. Whenever you need to rebuild your business website in alignment with modern technologies and advancements, a separate backend and frontend make it easier for you to accomplish your goal without any hassle. 

Incredible microsite management

In case your business requires multiple websites, Drupal headless architecture can be a boon for you. You can deliver content to all the microsites by developing your Drupal-based content engine. With it, you’ll have all your content in one place and you’ll be able to quickly generate and close microsites whenever required. 

Advantages and disadvantages are two sides of the same coin and Drupal headless architecture is also associated with some demerits. That said, you must consider them to make an informed decision. Now, let’s delve into the various challenges associated with Drupal's decoupled architecture. 

The 4 Major Challenges Associated With Drupal Decoupled Architecture

No doubt, Drupal headless is a phenomenal technology, but it also possesses some drawbacks. This section introduces you to the major challenges associated with Drupal decoupled so that you can make a well-calculated decision. 

More difficult to Manage 

Headless Drupal development is often challenging and complex. This implies that you’ll require the assistance of a professional Drupal development company like LN Webworks to create your business website based on Drupal decoupled. Additionally, you’ll also require expert assistance for the management of your website. No doubt, seeking professional assistance may seem like a daunting task, but still, the time and effort invested in the process is nothing in comparison with the benefits of Drupal headless architecture. 

More expensive

As mentioned above, headless Drupal development requires expert assistance. This makes it more expensive than traditional Drupal development. However, the cost you have to bear is still nothing when compared to the enormous benefits your business gets to reap from Drupal's decoupled development. 

Includes high maintenance costs

Drupal headless architecture is based on the REST API. Hence, its maintenance requires rigorous testing which is quite time-consuming. Moreover, at times, compatibility issues can arise between the two systems which makes things quite challenging. Hence, developers have to spend a lot of time and effort on the maintenance of Drupal's headless architecture which makes it quite expensive. 

Requires management of two teams

Drupal decoupled architecture separates the front end and back end. This implies that you’ll have to manage two teams and ensure effective collaboration for smooth functioning within the organization. 

Let’s Wrap Up

Drupal headless is a modern Drupal development approach that separates the Drupal-based backend from the front end of a website. With such an arrangement in place, the styling of a website is no longer bound by the backend’s design limitations. Today, almost every new Drupal website possesses a headless architecture as it is highly beneficial. In this blog, we discussed several advantages of Drupal decoupled architecture along with some drawbacks. However, it is imperative to note that the benefits far exceed the drawbacks. 

If you also aspire to tap into the potential of headless Drupal and require the assistance of a highly proficient Drupal development team, look no beyond LN Webworks. Our eminent development team is world-renowned for creating captivating and highly profitable websites with decoupled Drupal. Contact us today to get a customized and phenomenal headless Drupal website built at an affordable price.