Downloading Methods:
- Free online demo.
- One-click installer from hosting provider.
- Pre-configured environment/virtual machine.
- Manually from Drupal.org (for simple sites).
- Using Composer (recommended for complex sites or Drush use).
Installation Methods:
- Behind-the-scenes installer (online demos, one-click).
- Interactive installer (on-line forms).
- Demo site installer (local temp site with PHP built-in server/SQLite).
- Command-line tool (Drush).

Prerequisite: Composer installed.
Updating files: If unable to install Composer on live server, transfer updated directories (vendor, autoload.php, composer.json, composer.lock) from local to live.
Downloading Core: composer create-project drupal/recommended-project mydir
Converting existing site to Composer: For Drupal 8.8.0+, files have config; add non-core modules/themes via composer require drupal/module_name. For older versions, see Drupal.org guide.
Downloading Module/Theme: composer require drupal/short_name
Updating Files: composer update drupal/short_name --with-dependencies (latest stable) or composer require drupal/short_name:version (specific version).

Go to Drupal.org > Build > Download & Extend.
Download core software (zip/tar.gz) or a distribution.
Upload to hosting account (HTML directory).
Uncompress the file.
Delete compressed file.
Rename directory or reconfigure web hosting to match site's configured directory.

Open browser to site URL.
Select language (e.g., English), click Save and continue.
Select installation profile (e.g., Standard), click Save and continue.
System requirements check (correct issues if any).
Provide database details (name, username, password), click Save and continue.
Installation progress bar.
Configure site information (Site name: Anytown Farmers Market, Site email: info@example.com, Username: admin, secure password, Email address: admin@example.com). Click Save and continue.
Redirected to front page with "Congratulations" message.
Optional: Fix file permissions for sites/default and sites/default/settings.php to be read-only.

Administrative Menu (Toolbar module): Top/left menu for users with permission. Links vary by active modules/permissions.
- Content, Structure, Appearance, Extend, Configuration, People, Reports, Help.
- Toggle horizontal/vertical format.
Contextual Links (Contextual Links module): Pencil icons near content for direct access to administrative/editing pages.