Drupal 11 Batch API: Direct and Indirect Batch Operations Explained

Drupal 11's Batch API, a powerful system for processing large data in manageable chunks, has been featured in a recent blog post by Phil Norton, founder of #! code, as part of an ongoing series exploring the API's functionalities. This sixth article in the series delves into how Drupal itself uses the Batch API, categorizing usage into "direct" and "indirect" applications—terms coined by Phil to clarify whether a batch operation is triggered within a method or passed to a hook for execution. 

Examples of direct usage include tasks like module installation and bulk content updates, while indirect usage is seen in update hooks, such as hook_update_N() and hook_post_update_NAME(), where the batch system processes data across updates. 

Phil illustrates these concepts with code samples and advises on best practices, like using hook_update_N() for configuration over content updates. His post emphasizes that while not all update processes require batching, the API proves crucial when handling extensive data. Full examples from this and prior articles in the series are accessible in the Drupal batch examples repository.