Drupal 11 Upgrade

Why upgrading to Drupal 11 is important for your business.

An upgrade to Drupal 11 is far more than just a technical necessity. It offers significant advantages in the areas of security, functionality, maintenance, and compatibility. With innovative tools and improvements, you can not only future-proof your website but also provide your users with a modern, efficient, and barrier-free experience.

Why upgrade to Drupal 11?

Official support for Drupal 9 ended in November 2023. This means there are no more security updates, bug fixes, or community support.

If your website is still running on Drupal 8, an update is long overdue. Even for users of Drupal 10, a switch to Drupal 11 can be advantageous.

Now is the ideal time to update your website to the latest version. You can find more compelling reasons for an upgrade to Drupal 11 in the following article.

4 Reasons to Switch to Drupal 11 Now

Security
Drupal 11 offers essential security updates, supports PHP 8.3, and utilizes modern features that protect your website against threats while also enhancing performance. Additionally, stronger encryption protocols have been introduced for even more security.
Functionality
With new features and improved user-friendliness, Drupal 11 boosts your website's efficiency. Performance optimizations and a user-friendly Layout Builder make content more intuitive to handle.
Support and Maintenance
Older versions no longer receive regular updates. With Drupal 11, you secure yourself long-term support and avoid potential compatibility issues.
Compatibility
Current web standards and technologies are optimally supported by Drupal 11. This also applies to extensions and modern frameworks, ensuring that your website remains technically up to date.

Drupal Release Dates and Milestones

Additional Benefits of an Upgrade

Upgrade to Symfony 7

When it comes to the technology behind your website, your business deserves the best. Drupal 11 uses the latest Symfony framework, which not only ensures improved performance and higher security but also provides your business with access to the latest features. This keeps your website always at the cutting edge of technology.

Olivero – Front-End Theme

Olivero is the new standard front-end theme of Drupal 11. With a simple, modern design, clear fonts, and level AA accessibility according to WCAG. Learn more about accessibility in our post: Barrier-free Design of Drupal Applications

Additionally, the Layout Builder has been further developed to enable intuitive handling and better real-time preview.

Claro – Admin Theme

Claro is the new admin theme since Drupal 10, which, like Olivero, offers modern design and level AA accessibility. With Drupal 11, this administration interface has been modernized. Thanks to its clear design and intuitive navigation, content management becomes easier and more productive for both beginners and experienced developers.

Upgrades for CKEditor 5

CKEditor 5 brought exciting features and a user-friendly experience for Drupal 10. The user interface is similar to Microsoft Word and Google Docs, offering improved collaboration tools and the ability to export to .docx and .pdf files. With Drupal 11, further enhancements like the ability to configure specific programming or markup languages for the "Code Block" button have been introduced, simplifying content creation and editing.

Overall Accessibility

Drupal 11 places a high emphasis on accessibility for users of all experience levels. Initiatives like Project Browser make it easier for new users to find and install modules, while Easy Out of the Box simplifies the use of the admin level for non-technical users.

Automatic Updates

Drupal 11 integrates automatic updates as a core feature. With a single click, Drupal carries out all necessary steps, from file downloads to readiness and performance checks, notifying users of updates done and required actions. This significantly relieves users from manual update tasks.

Improvements for Headless CMS

Drupal 11 strengthens its functionalities as a headless CMS. Enhanced decoupling options and extended support for JavaScript frameworks like React and Vue.js enable developers to create even more dynamic and interactive user experiences.

Performance Enhancements

Drupal 11 offers comprehensive performance enhancements that ensure faster loading times and an optimized user experience. Through improved caching mechanisms, optimized database processes, and the use of PHP 8.3, the speed and efficiency of your website are significantly increased. Additionally, Gander, an automated test framework for monitoring key performance indicators, supports proactive performance review.

Conclusion: Why an Upgrade to Drupal 11 Makes Sense

With the end of support for older Drupal versions like Drupal 9, upgrading to Drupal 11 becomes essential to close security gaps and ensure the maintainability of your website. The new version offers essential security updates, supports modern technologies, and enhances performance through improved caching mechanisms. At the same time, users benefit from enhanced user-friendliness thanks to the Layout Builder, accessible design, and extended features.

Drupal 11 provides a future-proof foundation for your website through automatic updates, better support for headless CMS functions, and current web standards. With its innovative features and long-term support, it's the ideal time to switch to the latest version and sustainably increase the security, efficiency, and competitiveness of your website.