Understanding Drupal File Structure - DFN #2

Drupal typically follows a modular and organized file structure. Here's a basic guide to navigating through Drupal's file structure as a part of our Drupal for noobs training series.

Navigating through:

1. Root Directory:

   • The root directory will contain essential files like index.php, .htaccess, and the web directory, which is the main web root.
     
     

2. Web Directory:

   • The web directory is the web root and contains the main Drupal files. It includes the core, modules, themes, profiles, and sites directories.
     
     

3. Core:

   • The web/core directory contains the Drupal core files. You generally don't need to modify anything here.
     
     

4. Modules:

   • The web/modules directory is where contributed modules are installed. Custom modules are often placed in the web/modules/custom directory as a part of standard practice.
     
     

5. Themes:

   • The web/themes directory contains contributed themes. Custom themes are often placed in the web/themes/custom directory as a part of standard practice.
     
     

6. Profiles:

   • The web/profiles directory is used for installation profiles. This is more relevant for developers creating distributions or specific site configurations.
     
     

7. Sites:

   • The web/sites directory contains configuration settings, site-specific modules, themes, and files. It has subdirectories like default and example.com (where example.com is your site's domain). Configuration files (like settings.php) are often placed in the web/sites/default directory.
     
     

8. Settings.php:

   • Important configuration settings are stored in web/sites/default/settings.php. It's crucial for database configuration, module and theme settings, and other site-specific configurations.
     
     

9. Files:

   • The web/sites/default/files directory is where Drupal stores uploaded files, images, and other media.

10. Vendor:

    • The vendor directory (outside the web directory) is where Composer installs external libraries and dependencies.
      
      

11. Temporary Files:

    • Temporary files, like the Twig cache, may be stored in web/sites/default/files/php or a similar location.

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Video Guide: (coming soon)

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