Loads the file named by filename into the Lisp environment. The file type, a.k.a extension, is defaulted if missing. These options are defined:

:if-source-newer <keyword>

If the file type is not specified, and both source and object files exist, then this argument controls which is loaded: :load-object - load object file (default); :load-source - load the source file; :compile - compile the source and then load the object file; :query - ask the user which to load.

:if-does-not-exist {:error | nil}

If :error (the default), signal an error if the file can't be located. If nil, simply return nil (load normally returns t.)

:verbose {t | nil}

If true (the default), print a line describing each file loaded.

:print {t | nil}

If true, print information about loaded values. When loading the source, the result of evaluating each top-level form is printed.

:contents {nil | :source | :binary}

Forces the input to be interpreted as a source or object file, instead of guessing based on the file type. This also inhibits file type defaulting. Probably only necessary if you have source files with a "fasl" type.

:external-format

The external file format to use when opening the filename. The default is :default.

The variables *load-verbose*, *load-print* and ext:*load-if-source-newer* determine the defaults for the corresponding keyword arguments. These variables are also bound to the specified argument values, so specifying a keyword affects nested loads. The variables ext:*load-source-types* and ext:*load-object-types* determine the file types that we use for defaulting when none is specified.