Difference between Eager Loading and Lazy Loading in Hibernate

In Hibernate, eager loading and lazy loading are two strategies used to manage object relationships and optimize database performance.

Eager Loading:

Eager loading is a strategy where related objects are loaded at the same time as the main object, regardless of whether they will be used immediately. This can lead to the retrieval of unnecessary data, but ensures that all required data is available without making additional queries.

Lazy Loading:

Lazy loading is a strategy where related objects are not loaded until they are explicitly accessed by the application. This helps in reducing the initial loading time and resource consumption, as only the required data is fetched when needed.

It is important to choose the appropriate loading strategy based on the specific requirements of the application to achieve optimal performance and efficiency.