What is lazy loading in Flask-SQLAlchemy?

What is lazy loading in Flask-SQLAlchemy?

Lazy loading is a design pattern that delays the loading of related data until it's actually needed, improving performance.

Can you give me an example of how to implement lazy loading?

Sure! In Flask-SQLAlchemy, you can set the lazy parameter in your relationship definition, like this: relationship('User', lazy='dynamic').

What are the benefits of using lazy loading?

The main benefits include reduced memory usage and faster initial load times, as related data is only fetched when accessed.

Are there any downsides to lazy loading?

Yes, it can lead to additional database queries if not managed properly, which may affect performance in some cases.