Drupal 11 Release: Key Updates, Removed Features, and Upgrade Requirements

Drupal 11, released on August 2, 2024, brings significant advancements and changes to the CMS platform, including the stabilization of Single Directory Components (SDC) and Workspaces, both designed to enhance the efficiency of content creation and management. Eli Stone, in a detailed blog post on Amazee Labs, explains that SDC allows developers to encapsulate everything needed to render a component within a single directory, while Workspaces offers editors a safe environment to test content changes before pushing them live. The update also introduces a new Access Policy API, which enables time-based permissions, allowing roles to be granted editing rights within specific hours. Notably, the release removes the ability to add modules or themes via the UI, pushing users to rely on Composer instead, a move that prepares the system for the upcoming Project Browser. With the requirement for PHP 8.3 and the removal of IIS support, upgrading to Drupal 11 requires careful preparation, but Drupal 10 will still be supported until mid-late 2026, giving users ample time to plan their transition.