Drupal Layout Builder: Benefits and Drawbacks for Custom Page Creation

Layout Builder in Drupal is a tool that lets you create custom pages without writing any code. It's a great solution for those who want to quickly modify page layouts and content without needing deep technical knowledge. In this article, we'll break down what Layout Builder is, its advantages, and its drawbacks, so you can decide if it’s the right tool for your project.

One of the main benefits of Layout Builder is its ability to create pages with unique layouts without needing to dive into code. With its visual editor, you can easily drag and drop blocks and adjust their positioning. This lets you customize pages without requiring developer involvement, saving you valuable time when creating and updating content.

Example: For an educational platform project, we used Layout Builder to create individual pages for each course. This allowed us to set up the page structure quickly without needing to develop new templates.

Layout Builder lets you build pages from individual blocks. This modular approach makes it easy to add new elements, edit them, or rearrange blocks without hassle. It makes the site flexible and enables rapid adaptation to evolving business needs or content updates.

Example: One of our clients in the medical field needed to frequently update pages with new services. By using Layout Builder, we ensured quick content updates that didn’t require technical support.

Layout Builder is designed to be intuitive, so even non-technical users can manage content with ease. Content managers can quickly make layout changes without the need for developers, saving both time and resources on everyday tasks. If your team needs help getting up to speed with using Layout Builder, check out our Drupal Support Services for training and ongoing assistance.

While Layout Builder may seem easy at first, beginners—especially those unfamiliar with Drupal—might find the interface a bit challenging. It requires some time to get used to configuring layouts and organizing blocks effectively. If you need personalized training to help your team become more proficient with Layout Builder, our Drupal Support Services can guide you.

Layout Builder can impact page load speed, particularly on larger sites with lots of blocks and content. This can become an issue if your site includes numerous media elements that require additional resources to render. Our Drupal Performance Optimization Services can help ensure that your website runs smoothly and loads quickly, even with complex layouts.

Example: On one of our projects for a large educational platform, we saw slower page speeds due to the numerous videos and images in use. To fix this, we optimized the content and implemented caching, which significantly improved performance.

While Layout Builder offers plenty of flexibility for creating layouts, it might not be powerful enough for highly customized projects. If your project needs precise control over every design element, you may need to use custom templates or other tools. For more advanced customizations, check out our Custom Drupal Development Services, where we provide tailored solutions to meet your unique needs.