Top Contributed Modules Every Drupal Developer Should Know in 2025

Key Highlights

• Discover essential contributed modules that every Drupal developer should know for efficient site management and development in 2025.
• Understand how contributed modules enhance Drupal sites’ functionality without needing extensive custom code.
• Learn about modules like Webform, Pathauto, and Token that streamline processes such as form building, URL aliasing, and content personalization.
• Find out how modules like Metatag and Redirect optimize SEO, while Admin Toolbar improves navigation for administrators.
• Explore tools like Chaos Tool Suite and Automatic Updates that simplify Drupal development and maintenance processes.

Ready to enhance your Drupal site with these modules? Let’s dive in!

Introduction

The Drupal community is strong because people keep coming up with new ideas and tools. This is clear in how many Drupal modules are out there.

Right now, there are over 51,000 modules that you can use. With so many options, you can add features to your Drupal sites and make sure they have what you need without making them slow. These Drupal modules help make work easier for developers, add useful functionality, and help sites run better.

In 2025, to be on top in Drupal, you need to use these tools the right way. This will help you make powerful and scalable Drupal sites.

Let’s take a look at which Drupal modules are key for Drupal development in 2025.

Essential Contributed Modules Every Drupal Developer Should Know in 2025

In the fast-changing world of Drupal services, contributed modules are very important. They help make the core functionality of Drupal better without needing to build something new from scratch. These modules save people time, help make the website run better, and let the Drupal community work together.

There are many types of these modules, like ones that help with SEO and others that make the admin part easier to use. These solutions work for many use cases. They give Drupal sites the features needed to be strong in 2025.

Take a look at this list to see how each module can boost the way we work with Drupal and improve website performance.

1. Webform: Advanced Form Building for Drupal Sites

The Webform module is an important tool for making forms on Drupal sites. This module lets you make simple forms or more complex, multi-page ones that users find easy to use. You can change and set up the forms to fit what you need.

With Webform, you can:

• Use conditional logic. This means you show or hide fields in the form based on what users do.
• Export data easily. This helps you look deeper into form results.
• Use additional features like SPAM protection, which keeps your forms safe from unwanted messages.

The drag-and-drop system is easy to use. It lets content editors or anyone without developer skills build forms quickly. Webform also works well with other modules, so that you can add more functionality if you need. People use it for surveys, event sign-ups, and more. The flexibility it offers helps keep your site engaging for visitors.

When you use the Webform module on Drupal sites, Drupal developers can keep all the features they need without spending too much time making new forms from scratch.

2. Pathauto: Automated URL Aliasing for Better SEO

Pathauto is a helpful module for Drupal sites. It makes the work of making URLs automatic, so editors and developers save time. This tool makes URLs easy to read and remember. It also helps with SEO by making links clean and easy for search engines.

Features include:

• Custom patterns that use tokens to build URL aliases by themselves.
• Making sure the links stay organized across big websites.
• Helping stop mistakes in building URLs.

For example, you can set a template like domain.com/category/article-name. Pathauto will use this pattern to make the URLs the same for every page. This is good for visitors moving around your site and helps your site show up in search engines.

Pathauto works well with other Drupal modules. It helps both developers and content editors keep the site easy to use and saves everyone time.

3. Token: Dynamic Content Replacement and Site Personalization

The token module brings a new way to make Drupal sites more personal by using simple placeholder tokens. These tokens stand in for content that changes, like user names or page titles. This makes it easy for developers to use templates and show the right information at the right time.

Key advantages:

• Set up tokens to give users the same personal experience everywhere on your Drupal site.
• Use tokens in your templates and drop in placeholders, such as [site:name], to automatically show the site name where you need it.
• Make content more accurate and speed up your work, all without having to do any coding.

For example, you can use “[user: mail]” to show someone’s email on their profile page. The token module is loved by many because it makes everyday work easier and helps people finish tasks faster.

The token module also works well with other modules, helping Drupal sites increase their functionality and make users more interested and happy with the site.

4. Metatag: Boosting Visibility with Custom Metadata

The Metatag module helps you manage metadata easily on Drupal sites. It can create meta tags automatically. This can make your site better for SEO and easier for people to find.

Why do developers pick Metatag?

• Make your own metadata patterns for things like nodes, users, and taxonomy terms.
• Add meta descriptions, keywords, Open Graph tags, and tools for social cards to help people on your site.
• Spend less time on editing by letting Metatag do the repetitive jobs for you.

When you use Metatag with the Token module, your metadata can stay fresh and work for any amount of content. This makes it simple to handle SEO tasks, share things on social media, and improve search rankings on engines like Google.

Adding a Metatag can really change the way you handle SEO for any Drupal site.

5. Admin Toolbar: Enhanced Administrative Navigation

The Admin Toolbar module helps make work easier for admins on Drupal sites. It does this by adding dropdown menus and smart search tools to the normal navigation menu.

Core features:

• Makes the default admin menu easier with dropdown menus that go into more levels.
• Lets you move to pages faster with simple search tools.
• Makes sites easier to use, helping admins to handle complex setups quickly.

With Admin Toolbar, admins get to the things they need inside the site without trouble. This means less stress compared to using the usual top menu in Drupal. When you turn on the extra pieces called submodules, you get even more ways to change configuration settings and use dashboards for finding and fixing problems.

Admin Toolbar is a must-have module when you want good admin work on all types of Drupal services and companies.

6. Views: Flexible Content Display and Custom Listings

This module helps developers create content displays that are easy to change and update. It makes the user experience better on Drupal sites. With it, content editors can set up listings to show the information that they want.

You can use filters and different ways to show your data. This means you get more control over how people see content. When you use the module with other modules, you get even more features. For example, it makes it simple to use the API for more tasks.

In the Drupal community, this module is important. New Drupal users should learn to use it well. That way, they can get the most out of their site’s functionality.

7. Paragraphs: Structured Content Authoring

Using the Paragraphs module makes it much easier to create organized content in Drupal. It lets content editors build different sections in one place, which adds a lot of flexibility to Drupal sites. This helps with many use cases, like adding text or putting in media.

Editors can use different layout templates and even use conditional logic or tokens to get the look and feel they want. This not only gives users a better experience, but it also helps with SEO by making sure every piece of structured data is used well, making Drupal sites show up better in search engines.

8. Chaos Tool Suite (ctools): Developer APIs for Custom Functionality

The Chaos Tool Suite, or CTools, is a strong helper for people who build Drupal sites. It makes it easier to add new ways for a site to work. There are some important APIs in CTools that help developers create custom features. This helps people use a step-by-step approach when setting things up in their projects. So, the web applications become more useful for both the people who use them and the ones who build them.

Some use cases are making custom pages, working with content types, and setting up workflows that do more steps. CTools also works well with Drupal’s token and webform modules, which makes it even more helpful.

When new Drupal users choose these kinds of developer tools, they can get more done in less time. At the same time, their work will stay strong and easy to keep working on and update.

9. Redirect: Managing URL Redirections for SEO Health

Taking care of your URLs the right way is very important for the SEO health of your Drupal site. The Redirect module helps you set up 301 redirects. This makes sure that people and search engines always get to the right content, even when the URL changes. Using the module stops 404 errors from popping up, so your site does not lose its trust or ranking.

If you use it with pathauto, managing your metadata gets much easier, too. This helps you make quick changes that improve how your site looks in search engine results and can make your whole site work better.

10. Simple XML Sitemap: Improved Search Engine Crawling

The Simple XML Sitemap module is a helpful tool for SEO on your Drupal sites. It gives search engines a clear map of your site’s pages. This module makes and updates sitemaps automatically, so the important pages, custom routes, and changing URLs all get added. Search engines can then find and crawl your site better, which is good for new Drupal users who want strong SEO.

The module uses API functionality, so each sitemap stays up to date without much work. Using this tool makes it easy to keep site content ready for indexing, helping your Drupal sites stand out online.

11. Devel: Development and Debugging Tools

Devel is a very useful tool for people who work in the Drupal community. It makes it much easier to fix errors and helps with many everyday coding jobs. You can use Devel to check variables, run short pieces of PHP code, and create fake content. This is good for testing and for all new Drupal users who want to see how things look or work.

It works well with many other Drupal modules, making its functionality even better. Because of this, even tough jobs feel simple for both old and new Drupal users. There is also good documentation to help, and the Drupal community gives support, so you can use Devel to make your website run better.

12. Entity Reference Revisions: Efficient Content Relationships

Setting up connections between content is easy with the Entity Reference Revisions module. This tool lets content editors link items together and keep old versions, which helps manage content in a better way. New Drupal users will find that it fits well with what they already do on Drupal sites, making it simpler to handle different types of content.

With this Drupal module, you can look after the configuration better. It allows you to link referenced items and their past versions in a dynamic way. This leads to data on Drupal sites being more flexible and tidy.

13. Google Analytics: Website Performance Monitoring

A good way to check how a website is doing can really help make a Drupal site better. When you set up Google Analytics, you get to see what people do on your site. This shows you important things about how visitors act and what they like.

Using this strong API, both webmasters and content editors can get data, look at it, and use it to make smart choices. This helps make the site better for everyone. If you use Google Analytics with Drupal, you can also boost SEO, and your site’s content and functionality will get better by knowing these numbers.

14. CAPTCHA & Honeypot: Spam Protection Essentials

In the world of Drupal, using spam protection is important for all Drupal sites. The Captcha and Honeypot modules help stop unwanted messages and keep web forms safe. These modules use conditional logic to cut out bad bots, so real people can use the site more easily.

Content editors can set up these tools right in the admin section. This setup makes the site work better for everyone. The easy way they fit into Drupal makes it simple to use. By lowering the amount of spam, these modules help with your site’s seo. This is why they are key to running good Drupal sites.

15. Automatic Updates: Streamlined Module and Core Updates

Keeping the latest version of Drupal modules and main features up to date is important for your website to work well. Automatic updates make things easier, as they help you get security fixes and new features faster. This cuts down on the risk of any problems in the code.

For new Drupal users, this functionality makes it simple to update the site, even without a lot of technical skill.

When you add automatic updates, you help the site stay up to date and make it stronger. This also gives your site a boost in SEO and gives users a better experience. The ease you get with automatic updates makes it a must for anyone running a Drupal site.

16. Role Assign: Streamlined User Management for Drupal Services

Efficient user management is important for people who run any Drupal site. The Role Assign module makes this job easier. It lets you give roles and permissions quickly. This helps those who watch over the site, and it cuts down on the work you have to do by hand.

You can use this module with other Drupal features, and it fits in well. The module also helps with workflow automation. This is great for content editors and those who build sites. For new Drupal users, this module makes it easier to deal with settings and permissions. This can save you time and cut out guesswork.

17. Scheduler: Automated Content Publishing

Automated content publishing helps content editors work faster in the Drupal community. When you use the scheduler module, you can set publish dates and times for your content early. This lets you send out content on many Drupal sites in a neat, organized way. The functionality works well with other Drupal modules like Views and tokens, so you get a strong content plan for your site.

The easy-to-use interface makes configuration simple. Even new Drupal users can start using this module without any trouble. With this, you can reach more people and keep up engagement without having to do everything by hand all the time.

18. Linkit: Easy Internal Linking for Editors

Linkit is a tool in the Drupal community that helps content editors with internal linking. It be easy to use and works well on Drupal sites. When you start to type, the module shows auto-suggest links to other content on your site. This helps editors link faster and saves time.

Linkit uses tokens and works with the webform module, too. It lets you make your content more connected. Because of that, your Drupal sites can do better in SEO. This module makes it simple for people who want to get the most out of linking inside their site.

Conclusion

To sum up, learning how to use the important contributed modules helps make Drupal sites much better. These modules add new features for different use cases, which means both new Drupal users and skilled developers can do more with them.

When you use the right tools, such as SEO modules and extra functions, your web projects can get better results. Being active in the Drupal community and joining community forums helps you get the latest updates.

Using the documentation makes it easier to build a strong and efficient site that is ready for what people want. This is good for you, your team, and the users who come to your Drupal sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where do we upload contributed modules in Drupal?

Ans. To add a new module in Drupal, go to the “Extend” part in the admin menu. There, you can upload a module package right away. You can also pick the “Install new module” choice for a module that is found on Drupal.org. After you do this, make sure the module is turned on.

Q. How do contributed modules impact the function of your website in Drupal?

Ans. Contributed modules help Drupal websites by giving them extra features and tools. They make it easier for you to manage your content in the way you want. These modules also help with SEO, so your site can show up better in search engines like Google. With the help of these modules, developers can build websites that are more active and ready for all kinds of business needs. It also makes things better for people who use the website each day.

Q. How can I contribute a module to the Drupal community?

Ans. To give a module to the Drupal community, you need to start by making your module with the right steps. Let other people see your code on Drupal.org, and talk with more developers so you get feedback. You should also send your module for review. When you join in talks and follow what the Drupal community asks for, it will help make your Drupal module do well.

Q. What’s the process to move a contributed module to custom in Drupal?

Ans. To move a contributed module to the custom folder in Drupal, first, copy the module folder to your custom directory. Give it a new name. Now, go to the .info.yml file and change the details there. After this, look at the code and make any updates you need so it fits your website. Make sure that everything still works well with Drupal’s setup.