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# loadingPolicy

An option for whether to load the node’s content automatically.

```
var loadingPolicy: SCNReferenceLoadingPolicy { get set }
```

## Discussion

If this property’s value is [`SCNReferenceLoadingPolicy.immediate`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNReferenceLoadingPolicy/immediate) (the default), instantiating a reference node from an archive (using the <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/Foundation/NSKeyedUnarchiver> class) automatically loads the node’s external content. Set this property to [`SCNReferenceLoadingPolicy.onDemand`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNReferenceLoadingPolicy/onDemand) before archiving an [`SCNReferenceNode`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNReferenceNode) object if you don’t want that reference node to automatically load its content when unarchived. In that case, call the [`load()`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNReferenceNode/load()) method after unarchiving when you want to load the node’s content.

---

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