Installing Drupal on Shared hosting is a popular way to launch websites using this robust and flexible content management system (CMS). In this article, we'll walk through step by step how you can install Drupal on your shared hosting account.

Preparation Before Installation

Before you begin, make sure your hosting account meets the requirements for installing Drupal. These requirements typically include PHP, a MySQL or MariaDB database, and sufficient disk space and bandwidth. It's also recommended to check if your hosting provides a control panel tool like cPanel or a similar user interface, which will significantly facilitate the installation process.

Downloading Drupal

1. Visit the official Drupal website at drupal.org and download the latest version of Drupal in .zip or .tar.gz format.
2. Once downloaded, extract the file on your computer.

Uploading Files to the Server

1. Log in to your hosting account and open the file manager or use an FTP client like FileZilla to access the files on the server.
2. Upload the extracted contents of Drupal to the root directory of your website or to a subdirectory if you prefer not to install Drupal in the root directory.

Creating a Database

1. In cPanel or a similar interface provided by your web hosting, find the "Databases" section and select "MySQL Database" or "MariaDB Database."
2. Create a new database and take note of the database name, username, and password, which you'll need during the Drupal installation.

Installing Drupal

1. After uploading the files and creating the database, open a web browser and enter the URL where you uploaded Drupal. This will start the Drupal installation script.
2. Follow the instructions provided by the installation script. Select the language, enter the database information (database name, username, and password), and configure basic website settings.

Configuration and Customization

Once the installation is complete, you can access the Drupal administrative interface and begin configuring and customizing your website. Drupal offers a wide range of modules and themes to help you tailor the look and functionality of your site to your preferences.

Installing Drupal on shared hosting doesn't have to be complicated if you follow the steps outlined above. With a bit of patience and attention to detail, you can quickly get your new Drupal website up and running.