autoloaded

Autoloaded is a term used in software development to describe a mechanism where code is automatically loaded into memory when it is first needed, rather than being loaded at the start of the application. This approach is often employed in programming languages and frameworks to improve application performance and reduce memory usage.

The primary benefit of autoloading is efficiency. By deferring the loading of code until it's actually required, applications can start up faster and consume less memory, especially in scenarios with large codebases or when only a subset of the available functionality is used during a particular session. This can lead to a more responsive user experience and reduced resource consumption on the server.

Autoloading typically relies on a predefined set of rules or conventions to locate and load the necessary code files. For instance, a common convention is to map class names to file paths. When a class is referenced for the first time, the autoloading system checks if the class is already loaded. If not, it uses the naming convention to determine the location of the corresponding file, loads it, and then instantiates the class.

Many modern programming languages and frameworks have built-in support for autoloading. For example, PHP has a standardized autoloading mechanism, and popular frameworks like Laravel and Symfony leverage it extensively. In JavaScript, module bundlers like Webpack and Parcel also facilitate a form of deferred loading, often referred to as code splitting, which achieves similar performance benefits. The implementation details of autoloading can vary significantly between different systems, but the core principle of on-demand code loading remains consistent.