Embedding forms in custom blocks for displayfor Drupal 8 , 9 , 10 , and 11

Embedding forms into custom blocks provides a versatile way to enhance user interaction across various sections of a Drupal site. By incorporating forms into blocks, you can position interactive elements such as contact or feedback forms directly on your site's layouts, making them more accessible to users.

Why Use Custom Blocks for Forms?

Custom blocks in Drupal provide a flexible mechanism for placing reusable content across different parts of a site. When combined with forms, they allow you to highlight interactive elements in a consistent manner, easy to manage and scale.

Benefits of Embedding Forms in Blocks

• Enhanced Accessibility: Place forms on any page or section, increasing user engagement.
• Reusable Components: Create universal form blocks to reuse wherever needed without redundancy.
• Flexible Configuration: Adjust block visibility and placement through Drupal's block layout system.

Implementing Custom Forms in Blocks

Let’s explore how to embed a custom form into a block in Drupal. Our example will feature a simple contact form displayed through a custom block, enabling site visitors to easily send messages.

Step 1: Define the Form

First, create a form in your custom module by extending the \Drupal\Core\Form\FormBase class:

// In src/Form/ContactForm.php
namespace Drupal\my_module\Form;

use Drupal\Core\Form\FormBase;
use Drupal\Core\Form\FormStateInterface;

class ContactForm extends FormBase {
  
  public function getFormId() {
    return 'contact_form';
  }

  public function buildForm(array $form, FormStateInterface $form_state) {
    $form['name'] = [
      '#type' => 'textfield',
      '#title' => $this->t('Your Name'),
      '#required' => TRUE,
    ];
    $form['message'] = [
      '#type' => 'textarea',
      '#title' => $this->t('Your Message'),
    ];
    $form['submit'] = [
      '#type' => 'submit',
      '#value' => $this->t('Send Message'),
    ];

    return $form;
  }

  public function submitForm(array &$form, FormStateInterface $form_state) {
    drupal_set_message($this->t('Thank you, @name, for your message: @message', [
      '@name' => $form_state->getValue('name'),
      '@message' => $form_state->getValue('message'),
    ]));
  }
}

Step 2: Create a Custom Block

Create a block plugin that renders this form in a block:

// In src/Plugin/Block/ContactFormBlock.php
namespace Drupal\my_module\Plugin\Block;

use Drupal\Core\Block\BlockBase;

/**
 * Provides a Contact Form Block.
 *
 * @Block(
 *   id = "contact_form_block",
 *   admin_label = @Translation("Contact Form Block"),
 *   category = @Translation("Custom")
 * )
 */
class ContactFormBlock extends BlockBase {
  
  public function build() {
    return \Drupal::formBuilder()->getForm('Drupal\my_module\Form\ContactForm');
  }
}

Step 3: Place the Block

Navigate to Structure -> Block Layout in the admin interface to place your block within a region of your choice:

• Locate "Contact Form Block" under the available blocks.
• Choose a region to place your form, such as the sidebar or footer.
• Configure visibility settings if needed to control where and when the block appears.

Step 4: Verify and Interact

After placing the block, visit a page where your block appears to verify the functionality and adjust any necessary styles or details.

Key Considerations

• Permissions: Ensure correct user permissions are in place to access the form block.
• Styling: Use your theme’s CSS to style the block and form for a cohesive look.
• Usability: Consider the block's placement to maximize user engagement and interaction.

Summary

Embedding forms within custom blocks in Drupal unlocks dynamic ways to interact with users, offering flexibility in both design and functionality across your site. By following these steps, you can effectively integrate forms into any part of your Drupal site, enhancing its interactivity and user experience.

Teaser for the Next Lesson

In our next topic, you'll learn about modifying render arrays in preprocess hooks, which will give you deeper control over how forms and blocks render in your Drupal site. Stay tuned to explore this advanced customization technique!