Chapter 1: The Elements of a Drupal Theme

In this chapter, we will introduce themes and their role in the Drupal system. The chapter also covers the various types of themes, the basic elements of a theme, and the functions those elements fulfill. Near the end of the chapter, we will also look at the themes contained in the distro and examine exactly what it is that makes each theme distinct.

The contents of this preliminary chapter provide the general comprehension necessary to grasp the big picture of Drupal. Think of the knowledge communicated in this chapter as a framework from which we will hang the various skills that follow in the subsequent chapters.