Insight

Drupal 9 Vs Drupal 10 – What’s New & Why You Should Make The Upgrade

Lakshya Sharma November 8, 2023 0 4 min read

With the end of Drupal 9’s official support looming on November 1, 2023, the decision to upgrade from Drupal 9 to Drupal 10 is clear-cut. As an open-source CMS that powers over 1 million websites worldwide, Drupal’s continuous evolution ensures that your website remains secure, performs optimally, and benefits from cutting-edge features.

In this blog, we’ll embark on a journey into the world of Drupal 10, unveiling its exciting new features, performance enhancements, and the compelling reasons why you should consider making the upgrade. We’ll explore how Drupal 10 empowers you to create more engaging user experiences, streamline content management processes, and embrace the future of web development.

The main focus of the Drupal team is to introduce new features and enhance the user experience. However, ensuring security is always a top priority. The transition from Drupal 9 to 10 not only brings feature improvements, but also strengthens security measures and ensures compatibility with standards and third-party integrations for the future.

– Harsh Sharma
(Product Owner)

Table of Contents

What’s New in Drupal 10?

Drupal 10, the latest iteration in the Drupal family, brings a host of exciting updates and enhancements to the table. Some of the notable changes include:

Symfony 6 Integration: Drupal 10 incorporates Symfony 6, the latest version of the PHP web application framework. This integration ensures better performance, security, and stability.
PHP 8 Support: With the introduction of Drupal 10, you can harness the power of PHP 8, taking advantage of its performance improvements and new features.
CKEditor 5: The popular CKEditor, responsible for content creation and editing, gets a major upgrade in Drupal 10 with CKEditor 5. It provides a more user-friendly and feature-rich experience.
Improved Media Handling: Managing media assets is more efficient in Drupal 10, thanks to enhanced media library features, making it easier to organize and reuse multimedia content.
API-First Approach: Drupal 10 embraces an API-first approach, making it easier to connect with other systems and deliver content to various devices, including mobile apps and IoT devices.

How Drupal 10 is Better than Drupal 9

Now, let’s dive into how Drupal 10 outshines its predecessor, Drupal 9, and what new functionalities it offers:

Enhanced Performance: Drupal 10’s integration with Symfony 6 and PHP 8 provides a significant performance boost, resulting in faster page load times and improved overall user experience.
Up-to-Date Security: With Drupal 9 nearing its end of life, security updates and support will no longer be available. Upgrading to Drupal 10 ensures your website remains secure with the latest patches and fixes.
Cutting-Edge Technologies: Drupal 10 is designed to take advantage of the latest web technologies, providing you with a modern and future-proof platform for your website.
User-Friendly Content Editing: CKEditor 5 in Drupal 10 offers an improved content editing experience, making it easier for content creators to craft engaging web content.
Easier Media Management: Managing multimedia content becomes more intuitive in Drupal 10, allowing you to streamline your website’s media assets.

Making the Upgrade from Drupal 9 to Drupal 10

Before making the upgrade, it’s crucial to ensure a smooth transition. Here are some essential things to check:

Module Compatibility: Verify that the modules and themes you rely on in Drupal 9 are available and compatible with Drupal 10. Some may require updates or replacements.
Data Backup: Backup your site’s data to prevent data loss during the upgrade process.
Custom Code Review: Review any custom code you’ve implemented in Drupal 9 to identify and address potential issues or conflicts with Drupal 10.

Upgrading from Drupal 9 to Drupal 10 is a well-documented process. Here’s a general outline:

Update to the Latest Drupal 9 Version: Ensure your Drupal 9 installation is running the most recent version.
Prepare Your Environment: Make sure your server environment supports PHP 8 and other Drupal 10 requirements.
Update Contributed Modules and Themes: Check for updates or replacements for contributed modules and themes.
Custom Code Adjustments: Review and update custom code as necessary to align with Drupal 10’s changes.
Data Migration: Migrate your data, configurations, and content to the new Drupal 10 site.
Testing: Thoroughly test the upgraded site to identify and resolve any issues.
Deployment: Once you’re satisfied with the testing, deploy the upgraded site to your production environment.

Why Should You Make the Upgrade?

The decision to upgrade from Drupal 9 to Drupal 10 is clear-cut. Drupal 9 official support ended on November 1, 2023. Drupal 10 was released on December 14, 2022, and is now the only supported Drupal version officially available from Drupal.

What is means if you’re still running Drupal 9 today:

Security: Drupal 9 will no longer receive security updates, leaving your website vulnerable to potential threats. Upgrading to Drupal 10 ensures your site remains secure.
Performance: Drupal 10’s improved performance and support for PHP 8 lead to faster loading times and a more responsive website.
Cutting-Edge Features: You’ll have access to the latest features and technologies, keeping your website competitive in the digital landscape.
Long-Term Support: Drupal 10 will receive long-term support, ensuring the sustainability of your website.

The Latest Version of Drupal is Here

In conclusion, the transition from Drupal 9 to Drupal 10 is a logical step for website owners who want to keep their websites secure, efficient, and equipped with the latest features. With improved performance, enhanced security, and new functionalities, Drupal 10 is a significant advancement over its predecessor. Don’t wait until Drupal 9’s end of life causes major problems for you and your users – it’s time to make the upgrade and harness all that Drupal 10 has to offer. If you’re considering the upgrade from Drupal 9 to Drupal 10 and need expert guidance or assistance, our team at Monsoon Drupal is here to help. Contact us today to make your transition as smooth as possible and take full advantage of the latest Drupal 10 features for your business.