The document discusses improvements to the entity and field APIs in Drupal 8, emphasizing that everything is treated as an entity. It covers features such as a universal API for data CRUD operations, enhancements in handling fields, and native support for translation of entity content. The author provides insights into creating custom entities and functionalities using Drupal 8's object-oriented PHP and plugin system.

1. Entity API and Field API. Writing own
fields and entities in Drupal 8
by Alexei Goja

2. HELLO!
I am Alexei Goja
I am here because I love Drupal 8 =)
email: agoja@adyax.com / Skype: ag.medvedi

3. What We’re Talking About
› How entities are used in Drupal 7
› Improvements to the entity API
› Improvements to the field API
› Other new things that are made easier, or possible, by these
improvements
› Demo

4. Drupal 7 Entities & Fields
› Fields and properties are handled differently
› EntityFieldQuery is limited in
functionality
› Enhancements in contributed entity module

6. Drupal 8

7. Everything Is an Entity
› Universal API for data CRUD
› All content is stored as entities
› Complex configuration is stored as entities
› Your data should be stored as entities

8. Entities
› Entities are typed objects
› YourEntity implements EntityInterface
› EntityManager for interacting with entities of
any type
› Everything is a field

9. Fields
› Base fields vs. bundle fields
› Consistent API for accessing field values
› Widget & formatters work for all fields
› Chainable, and smart about relationships

10. CODE EXAMPLES

11. CODE EXAMPLES

12. CODE EXAMPLES

13. CODE EXAMPLES
Field Type annotation

14. CODE EXAMPLES
Entity annotation

15. Handlers
› Entities represent a piece of data, handlers are responsible for acting
on that data
› Declared per entity type
› Use the defaults, or extend them for customizations
Handlers are used for:
• Storage
• Form
• Access control
• Listing
• Rendering
• etc.

16. EntityQuery
› Improved EntityFieldQuery
› No more propertyCondition() vs
fieldCondition()
› Don’t query the database, extend the
storage handler and add your own methods

17. Translations
› Native support for translation of all entity content
› Easily access translated values for an entire
entity or individual fields

18. What Do I Need to Know?
› Basic object-oriented PHP to use existing entities
› Drupal 8’s plugin system to create new entity
types
› Annotations

19. Demo

20. THANKS!
Any questions?
You can find me at:
agoja@adyax.com