Explain the difference between FetchType.LAZY and FetchType.EAGER in Hibernate.

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Explain the difference between FetchType.LAZY and FetchType.EAGER in Hibernate

When working with Hibernate, the FetchType attribute in a mapping defines the strategy for fetching associated objects.

Focus Keyword: FetchType.LAZY vs FetchType.EAGER

FetchType.LAZY: With FetchType.LAZY, associated objects are not loaded at the time of the initial query. Instead, these objects are loaded only when accessed for the first time. This can help improve performance by reducing the amount of data fetched initially.

FetchType.EAGER: In contrast, FetchType.EAGER fetches associated objects along with the main entity during the initial query. This approach can be convenient when you know that the associated objects will always be needed and you want to minimize additional database queries.

It's important to carefully consider and choose the appropriate FetchType based on the specific requirements of your application to ensure optimal performance and efficiency.