LOAD

Section: SQL Commands (7)
Updated: 2012-08-14
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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 [create_function(7)]; in particular, one can rely on a search path and automatic addition of the system's standard shared library file name extension. See in the documentation 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.