Programmatically Creating Custom Blocks in Drupal Using PHP

Specbee’s blog post by Suresh Prabhu presents a step-by-step guide on how to programmatically create custom blocks in Drupal. The post outlines the benefits of custom blocks over standard ones and details how developers can define these blocks in code for more flexibility and control. It begins with creating a custom module, then demonstrates how to add a block class using annotations and how to render content using the build() method.

The article further explores key methods such as blockAccess(), blockForm(), blockSubmit(), and blockValidate(). These allow for fine-grained control over block visibility, dynamic configuration options, and input validation. This structured approach ensures blocks can be customised to meet a wide range of user and business needs.

Suresh also highlights that while the process is similar across Drupal 8 and 10, Drupal 10 enhances the development experience with better performance and modern architecture. The guide offers clear, reusable code examples and is a practical reference for developers aiming to build tailored content elements efficiently.