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<refentry id="SQL-LOAD">
 <refmeta>
  <refentrytitle>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 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"> command.
  </para>

  <para>
   The filename is specified in the same way as for shared library
   names in <xref linkend="sql-createfunction">; in particular, one
   may rely on a search path and automatic addition of the system's standard
   shared library filename extension.  See the
   <citetitle>Programmer's Guide</citetitle> for more detail.
  </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">,
   <citetitle>PostgreSQL Programmer's Guide</citetitle>
  </para>
 </refsect1>
</refentry>

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