A CacheLoader is an interface that specifies load() and loadAll() methods with a variety of parameters. CacheLoaders are incorporated into the core Ehcache classes and can be configured in ehcache.xml. CacheLoaders are invoked in the following Cache methods:

The methods will invoke a CacheLoader if there is no entry for the key or keys requested. By implementing CacheLoader, an application form of loading can take place. The get... methods follow the pull-through cache pattern. The load... methods are useful as cache warmers.

CacheLoaders are similar to the CacheEntryFactory used in SelfPopulatingCache, however SelfPopulatingCache is a decorator to Ehcache.

CacheLoaders can be set either declaratively in the ehcache.xml configuration file or programmatically. If a CacheLoader is set, it becomes the default CacheLoader. Some of the methods invoking loaders enable an override CacheLoader to be passed in as a parameter. More than one CacheLoader can be registered, in which case the loaders form a chain which are executed in order. If a loader returns null, the next in chain is called.