When to create an entity instead of a new content type in Drupal

In Drupal, the decision to create an entity or a new content type often depends on the specific use case and the functionality needed. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, and this blog post aims to help you understand when it is appropriate to create an entity instead of a new content type based on your requirements.

Consider the functionality

Entities and content types serve different purposes in Drupal:

• Content types (nodes) are designed for site content, such as blog posts, articles, and FAQs, and are typically published and visible to site visitors.
• Entities, on the other hand, can represent various use cases that do not necessarily need to be published or displayed publicly, such as user profiles, support tickets, or forms.

A rule of thumb is to use nodes when the content needs to be publicly displayed on its own, and entities when the content should not be publicly available or does not require the same functionality as a node.

Evaluate the overhead and performance

Entities can be created with less overhead than nodes since they do not need to have all the functionalities that nodes have, such as author, published date, comments, and menu location. This can result in simpler storage and better performance, especially when dealing with a large number of entities or complex database queries.

Analyze the use case and context

When deciding between an entity and a content type, consider the use case and context. If your content needs to have functionalities similar to an existing entity, it might be better to use that entity instead of creating a new content type. However, if your content is governed by significantly different rules than any existing entities, it might be appropriate to create a new entity. Examples of use cases for creating a new entity include:

• Forum
• Project (in terms of project management)
• Form
• Support ticket
• Group

Conclusion

The decision to create an entity or a new content type in Drupal should be based on the specific use case, functionality, and context of the content. By carefully considering these factors, you can choose the most appropriate option for your needs and ensure that your content is organized and managed effectively.