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<refentry id="SQL-LOAD">
 <refmeta>
  <refentrytitle id="SQL-LOAD-TITLE">LOAD</refentrytitle>
  <refmiscinfo>SQL - Language Statements</refmiscinfo>
 </refmeta>

 <refnamediv>
  <refname>LOAD</refname>
  <refpurpose>load or reload a shared library file</refpurpose>
 </refnamediv>

 <refsynopsisdiv>
<synopsis>
LOAD '<replaceable class="PARAMETER">filename</replaceable>'
</synopsis>
 </refsynopsisdiv>

 <refsect1 id="sql-load-description">
  <title>Description</title>

  <para>
   Loads a shared library file into the <productname>PostgreSQL</>
   backend's address space.  If the file had been loaded previously,
   it is first unloaded.  This command is primarily useful to unload
   and reload a shared library file that has been changed since the
   backend first loaded it.  To make use of the shared library,
   function(s) in it need to be declared using the <xref
   linkend="sql-createfunction" endterm="sql-createfunction-title">
   command.
  </para>

  <para>
   The file name is specified in the same way as for shared library
   names in <xref linkend="sql-createfunction" endterm="sql-createfunction-title">; in particular, one
   may rely on a search path and automatic addition of the system's standard
   shared library file name extension.  See the &cite-programmer; for
   more information on this topic.
  </para>
 </refsect1>

 <refsect1 id="sql-load-compat">
  <title>Compatibility</title>

  <para>
   <command>LOAD</command> is a <application>PostgreSQL</application>
   extension.
  </para>
 </refsect1>


 <refsect1>
  <title>See Also</title>

  <para>
   <xref linkend="sql-createfunction" endterm="sql-createfunction-title">,
   &cite-programmer;
  </para>
 </refsect1>
</refentry>

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