# Difference between load and require

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/difference-between-load-and-require/124187>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [December 26, 2007, 8:09am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/difference-between-load-and-require/124187 "2007-12-26T08:09:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ratnavel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@ratnavel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ratnavel)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 8:09am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/difference-between-load-and-require/124187/1 "2007-12-26T08:09:58Z")

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Hi,

Can any one explain me in clear, what is the difference between load and  
require.

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![ratnavel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@ratnavel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ratnavel)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 8:14am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/difference-between-load-and-require/124187/2 "2007-12-26T08:14:32Z")

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Ratnavel S. wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> Can any one explain me in clear, what is the difference between load and  
> require.
> 
> Thanks.

To my knowledge,

‘require’ will load the file only once even if it is called many times.

But ‘load’ will load the file whenever it is called.

- Karthik.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ratnavel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@ratnavel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ratnavel)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 9:45am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/difference-between-load-and-require/124187/3 "2007-12-26T09:45:33Z")

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Here is the screencast on Require Vs Load in Ruby :  
[http://www.rubyplus.org/episodes/8](http://www.rubyplus.org/episodes/8)

On Dec 25, 2007 11:09 PM, Ratnavel S. \<  
removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid\> wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> Can any one explain me in clear, what is the difference between load and  
> require.
> 
> Thanks.

–  
[http://www.rubyplus.org/](http://www.rubyplus.org/)  
Free Ruby and Rails Screencasts