Autoload

Definitions

1. A mechanism that automatically loads class or module files on demand when they are first referenced, eliminating the need for explicit require/include statements — commonly used in PHP (PSR-4) and Ruby (Zeitwerk).

   In plain English: A system that automatically finds and loads the right code file when your program needs a class, so you do not have to manually list every file.

   Example: "PSR-4 autoloading means you never write a require statement — Composer resolves the file from the namespace."

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