---
title: "LOAD"
id: sql-load
pg_version: "20devel"
---

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# LOAD — load a shared library file

## Synopsis

```
LOAD 'filename'
```

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## Description

This command loads a shared library file into the PostgreSQL server's address space. If the file has been loaded already, the command does nothing. Shared library files that contain C functions are automatically loaded whenever one of their functions is called. Therefore, an explicit `LOAD` is usually only needed to load a library that modifies the server's behavior through "hooks" rather than providing a set of functions. 

The library file name is typically given as just a bare file name, which is sought in the server's library search path (set by [`dynamic_library_path` (`string`)](runtime-config-client.md#guc-dynamic-library-path)). Alternatively it can be given as a full path name. In either case the platform's standard shared library file name extension may be omitted. See [Section 36.10.1](xfunc-c.md#xfunc-c-dynload) for more information on this topic. 

Non-superusers can only apply `LOAD` to library files located in `$libdir/plugins/` — the specified `filename` must begin with exactly that string. (It is the database administrator's responsibility to ensure that only "safe" libraries are installed there.) 

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## Compatibility

`LOAD` is a PostgreSQL extension. 

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## See Also

[CREATE FUNCTION](sql-createfunction.md)