PostgreSQL 8.4.2 Documentation
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# LOAD

## Name

LOAD -- load a shared library file

## Synopsis

    LOAD 'filename'

## 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 file name is specified in the same way as for shared library names in CREATE FUNCTION; in particular, one can rely on a search path and automatic addition of the system's standard shared library file name extension. See Section 34.9 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.)

## Compatibility

`LOAD` is a PostgreSQL extension.

## See Also

CREATE FUNCTION

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