Websites with decoupled architecture tend to be more flexible, user-friendly, faster in web performance, and more accessible. All these factors are crucial for maintaining a successful online business. As a website owner, you need to understand that the right data structure and architecture of the platform influence website operation and, as a result, user experience, customer satisfaction, and security.
The ‘decoupled’ or ‘headless’ Drupal has already become a must and not a trend. Today, the team at Drupfan explores what decoupled Drupal is and how headless architecture can benefit your website. Let’s review the decoupled Drupal essentials together.
What is Decoupled Drupal?
Traditionally, the websites had a monolithic structure — in other words, a ‘coupled’ architecture. A monolithic website reduces the flexibility during web development, as well as is limited in custom feature and functionality building. In a decoupled Content Management System (CMS), particularly in decoupled Drupal, the front-end layer is developed separately from the back-end. Thus, with headless Drupal, web specialists receive more space for flexibility for creating unique digital landscapes based on clients’ needs and requirements.
At first, Drupal had a monolithic structure, but after Drupal 8.5 the capabilities for headless CMS development were included in Drupal core. The major advantage of the decoupled Drupal architecture lies in its flexibility: the front-end layer can be presented through multiple channels and built through multiple frameworks, such as React, Vue, Gatsby, and others. In such a duo, Drupal serves as an engine that manages data and handles functionality, while React (or any other chosen front-end framework) only works for the visual presentation of the platform.