Explicit Loading
Explicit loading is a data loading strategy in software development, particularly in object-relational mapping (ORM) frameworks, where related data is loaded from a database only when explicitly requested by the developer through code. This contrasts with eager loading (which loads all related data upfront) and lazy loading (which loads data automatically on access). It gives developers fine-grained control over database queries to optimize performance and avoid unnecessary data retrieval.
Developers should use explicit loading when they need precise control over database queries to optimize application performance, especially in scenarios where related data is conditionally needed or to avoid the N+1 query problem. It is ideal for applications with complex data relationships where loading all data eagerly would be inefficient, or when lazy loading might cause performance issues due to multiple database calls. For example, in a web API that returns user profiles with optional details, explicit loading allows loading extra data only when requested by the client.