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```{index} single: Module::Load
```

# Module::Load

runtime require of both modules and files

## SYNOPSIS

```perl
use Module::Load;

my $module = 'Data::Dumper';

load Data::Dumper;     # loads that module, but not import any functions
                       # -> cannot use 'Dumper' function

load 'Data::Dumper';   # ditto
load $module           # tritto

autoload Data::Dumper; # loads that module and imports the default functions
                       # -> can use 'Dumper' function

my $script = 'some/script.pl'
load $script;
load 'some/script.pl';  # use quotes because of punctuations

load thing;             # try 'thing' first, then 'thing.pm'

load CGI, ':all';       # like 'use CGI qw[:standard]'
```

## DESCRIPTION

`Module::Load` eliminates the need to know whether you are trying
to require either a file or a module.

If you consult `perldoc -f require` you will see that `require` will
behave differently when given a bareword or a string.

In the case of a string, `require` assumes you are wanting to load a
file. But in the case of a bareword, it assumes you mean a module.

This gives nasty overhead when you are trying to dynamically require
modules at runtime, since you will need to change the module notation
(`Acme::Comment`) to a file notation fitting the particular platform
you are on.

`Module::Load` eliminates the need for this overhead and will
just DWYM.

### Difference between `load` and `autoload`

`Module::Load` imports the two functions - `load` and `autoload`

`autoload` imports the default functions automatically,
but `load` do not import any functions.

`autoload` is usable under `BEGIN{};`.

Both the functions can import the functions that are specified.

Following codes are same.

```perl
load File::Spec::Functions, qw/splitpath/;

autoload File::Spec::Functions, qw/splitpath/;
```

## FUNCTIONS

- load

    Loads a specified module.

    See "Rules" for detailed loading rule.

- autoload

    Loads a specified module and imports the default functions.

    Except importing the functions, 'autoload' is same as 'load'.

- load\_remote

    Loads a specified module to the specified package.

    ```perl
    use Module::Load 'load_remote';

    my $pkg = 'Other::Package';

    load_remote $pkg, 'Data::Dumper'; # load a module to 'Other::Package'
                                      # but do not import 'Dumper' function
    ```

    A module for loading must be quoted.

    Except specifing the package and quoting module name,
    'load\_remote' is same as 'load'.

- autoload\_remote

    Loads a specified module and imports the default functions to the specified package.

    ```perl
    use Module::Load 'autoload_remote';

    my $pkg = 'Other::Package';

    autoload_remote $pkg, 'Data::Dumper'; # load a module to 'Other::Package'
                                          # and imports 'Dumper' function
    ```

    A module for loading must be quoted.

    Except specifing the package and quoting module name,
    'autoload\_remote' is same as 'load\_remote'.

## Rules

All functions have the following rules to decide what it thinks
you want:

- If the argument has any characters in it other than those matching
`\w`, `:` or `'`, it must be a file
- If the argument matches only `[\w:']`, it must be a module
- If the argument matches only `\w`, it could either be a module or a
file. We will try to find `file.pm` first in `@INC` and if that
fails, we will try to find `file` in @INC.  If both fail, we die with
the respective error messages.

## IMPORTS THE FUNCTIONS

'load' and 'autoload' are imported by default, but 'load\_remote' and
'autoload\_remote' are not imported.

To use 'load\_remote' or 'autoload\_remote', specify at 'use'.

- "load","autoload","load\_remote","autoload\_remote"

    Imports the selected functions.

    ```perl
    # imports 'load' and 'autoload' (default)
    use Module::Load;

    # imports 'autoload' only
    use Module::Load 'autoload';

    # imports 'autoload' and 'autoload_remote', but don't import 'load';
    use Module::Load qw/autoload autoload_remote/;
    ```

- 'all'

    Imports all the functions.

    ```perl
    use Module::Load 'all'; # imports load, autoload, load_remote, autoload_remote
    ```

- '','none',undef

    Not import any functions (`load` and `autoload` are not imported).

    ```perl
    use Module::Load '';

    use Module::Load 'none';

    use Module::Load undef;
    ```

## Caveats

Because of a bug in perl (#19213), at least in version 5.6.1, we have
to hardcode the path separator for a require on Win32 to be `/`, like
on Unix rather than the Win32 `\`. Otherwise perl will not read its
own %INC accurately double load files if they are required again, or
in the worst case, core dump.

`Module::Load` cannot do implicit imports, only explicit imports.
(in other words, you always have to specify explicitly what you wish
to import from a module, even if the functions are in that modules'
`@EXPORT`)

## SEE ALSO

[Module::Runtime](https://metacpan.org/pod/Module::Runtime) provides functions for loading modules,
checking the validity of a module name,
converting a module name to partial `.pm` path,
and related utility functions.

["require" in perlfunc](https://metacpan.org/pod/perlfunc#require)
and
["use" in perlfunc](https://metacpan.org/pod/perlfunc#use).

[Mojo::Loader](https://metacpan.org/pod/Mojo::Loader) is a "class loader and plugin framework",
and is included in the
[Mojolicious](https://metacpan.org/release/Mojolicious) distribution.

[Module::Loader](https://metacpan.org/pod/Module::Loader) is a module for finding and loading modules
in a given namespace, inspired by `Mojo::Loader`.

## ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Jonas B. Nielsen for making explicit imports work.

## BUG REPORTS

Please report bugs or other issues to <bug-module-load@rt.cpan.org>.

## AUTHOR

This module by Jos Boumans <kane@cpan.org>.

## COPYRIGHT

This library is free software; you may redistribute and/or modify it
under the same terms as Perl itself.

## Modules

- [`Module::Load::Conditional`](Load/Conditional.md) - Looking up module information / loading at runtime

```{toctree}
:hidden:
:maxdepth: 1

Load/Conditional
```