Installing a Drupal Module

A module is a set of PHP, JavaScript, and/or CSS files that extends site features and adds functionality.

You can turn the features and functionality on by installing the module, and you can turn it off by uninstalling the module; before uninstalling, you may need to remove data and configuration related to the feature or functionality.

Each module that is installed adds to the time needed to generate pages on your site, so it is a good idea to uninstall modules that are not needed.

The core download provides modules for functionality such as:

• Managing user accounts (the core User module)
• Managing basic content (the core Node module) and fields (the core Field and Field UI modules; there are also core modules providing field types)
• Managing navigation menus (the core Menu UI module)
• Making lists, grids, and blocks from existing content (the core Views and Views UI modules)

You can download additional contributed modules from the Drupal.org Module Downloads, or create your own custom modules.

Goal

Install a core module, or a contributed module whose files have already been uploaded to the site, through the administrative interface or using Drush.

Site prerequisites

If you want to use Drush to install modules, Drush must be installed. See “Additional Drupal Tools”.

Steps

You can use the administrative interface or Drush to install modules.

Using the administrative interface

1. In the Manage administrative menu, navigate to Extend (admin/modules). The Extend page appears showing all the available modules in your site.

2. Check the boxes for the module or modules you want to install. For example, check the box for the core Actions UI module.

   

3. Click Install. The checked modules will be installed.

Using Drush

1. In the Manage administrative menu, navigate to Extend (admin/modules). The Extend page appears showing all the available modules in your site.
2. Find the machine name of the module you want to install, by expanding the information area for the module. For instance, the core Actions UI module’s machine name is action.

3. Run the following Drush command to install the module:

   drush pm:enable action

Article from Drupal User Guide. Written and edited by Boris Doesborg and Jennifer Hodgdon, and Joe Shindelar at Drupalize.Me.