PostLoad

Postload is a term used in software engineering to denote operations performed after resources or data have been loaded into memory by a loader. It describes processing that cannot be efficiently completed during the load phase and is intended to finalize resource readiness for use.

In game engines and asset pipelines, postload stages resolve cross-resource references, generate derived data such as textures and level-of-detail models, and populate lookup tables. In data processing, postload steps may validate data, normalize formats, cast types, and build indexes after import. In web applications and scripting, postload hooks run after modules or assets are fetched to initialize UI, attach event handlers, or adjust layout.

Design considerations include implementing postload as callbacks or events, ensuring idempotence, handling errors without crashing the system, and controlling the ordering of multiple postload steps. Postload is often separated from the initial load to improve perceived performance and to allow lazy initialization.

Related concepts include preloading, onload, post-processing, and asset pipelines. The term is used variably across platforms, so exact semantics can differ by framework.