# load() Invoked whenever a class or category is added to the Objective-C runtime; implement this method to perform class-specific behavior upon loading. ``` class func load() ``` ## Discussion The [`load()`](/documentation/ObjectiveC/NSObject-swift.class/load()) message is sent to classes and categories that are both dynamically loaded and statically linked, but only if the newly loaded class or category implements a method that can respond. The order of initialization is as follows: 1. All initializers in any framework you link to. 2. All `+load` methods in your image. 3. All C++ static initializers and C/C++ `__attribute__(constructor)` functions in your image. 4. All initializers in frameworks that link to you. In addition: - A class’s `+load` method is called after all of its superclasses’ `+load` methods. - A category `+load` method is called after the class’s own `+load` method. In a custom implementation of [`load()`](/documentation/ObjectiveC/NSObject-swift.class/load()) you can therefore safely message other unrelated classes from the same image, but any [`load()`](/documentation/ObjectiveC/NSObject-swift.class/load()) methods implemented by those classes may not have run yet. > Important: > Custom implementations of the `load` method for Swift classes bridged to Objective-C are not called automatically. --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)