> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mariadb.com/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mariadb.com/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/api-functions/mysql_load_plugin.md).

# mysql\_load\_plugin

## Syntax

```bnf
#include <mysql.h>

struct st_mysql_client_plugin *
mysql_load_plugin(struct st_mysql *mysql, const char *name, int type,
                  int argc, ...);
```

## Parameters

| Parameter | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| --------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `mysql`   | A connection handle previously allocated by [mysql\_init()](/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/api-functions/mysql_init.md) and connected by [mysql\_real\_connect()](/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/api-functions/mysql_real_connect.md). |
| `name`    | The name of the plugin to load.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| `type`    | The plugin type, or `-1` to accept any type.                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| `argc`    | The number of optional arguments that follow.                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| `...`     | Optional arguments passed to the plugin's initialization function.                                                                                                                                                                                 |

## Description

`mysql_load_plugin` searches the client plugin directory for a plugin matching the given name and type, loads it, and calls its initialization function with any supplied arguments. If a plugin with that name is already loaded, the existing instance is returned without reloading.

## Valid Plugin Types

* `MYSQL_CLIENT_AUTHENTICATION_PLUGIN`
* `MARIADB_CLIENT_PVIO_PLUGIN`
* `MARIADB_CLIENT_REMOTEIO_PLUGIN`
* `MARIADB_CLIENT_CONNECTION_PLUGIN` or `MARIADB_CLIENT_COMPRESSION_PLUGIN`.

## Return Value

A pointer to the plugin handle, or `NULL` if an error occurred.

{% hint style="info" %}

* If the type of the plugin is not known, -1 needs to be specified for parameter type.
* The directory which contains the plugin can be specified either by the environment variable `MARIADB_PLUGIN_DIR` or it can be specified with [mysql\_optionsv()](/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/api-functions/mysql_optionsv.md) using the option `MYSQL_PLUGIN_DIR`.
  {% endhint %}

## See Also

* [mysql\_optionsv()](/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/api-functions/mysql_optionsv.md)


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