Module::Load(3pm) Perl Programmers Reference Guide Module::Load(3pm)

# [NAME](#NAME)

Module::Load - runtime require of both modules and files

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

```
  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](#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"](#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.

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

# [FUNCTIONS](#FUNCTIONS)

[load](#load)

Loads a specified module.

See "Rules" for detailed loading rule.

[autoload](#autoload)

Loads a specified module and imports the default functions.

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

[load\_remote](#load_remote)

Loads a specified module to the specified package.

```
  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](#autoload_remote)

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

```
  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](#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](#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.

```
  # 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.

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

'','none',undef

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

```
  use Module::Load '';
  use Module::Load 'none';
  use Module::Load undef;
    
```

# [Caveats](#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](#SEE_ALSO)

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 is a "class loader and plugin framework", and is included in the Mojolicious <https://metacpan.org/release/Mojolicious> distribution.

Module::Loader is a module for finding and loading modules in a given namespace, inspired by "Mojo::Loader".

# [ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS](#ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS)

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

# [BUG REPORTS](#BUG_REPORTS)

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

# [AUTHOR](#AUTHOR)

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

# [COPYRIGHT](#COPYRIGHT)

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

2026-08-31 perl v5.44.0

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Document: Module::Load(3pm) from perl 5.44.0-r1 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://github.com/Perl/perl5.git