When is better to use preload or eager_load vs includes?

Even if you already know what is the difference between includes, preload and eager_load, maybe is not that clear when is better for you to use one vs the other.

If you don’t know the difference you can read… What is the difference between includes, preload, eager_load and joins?

Well, as you may know, with Rails/ActiveRecord you can preload associations in 2 different ways:

With a LEFT OUTER JOIN to pull all the associations in one query (eager_load).
Making a separate query for each association (preload)

Using `includes` by default

When you use includes Rails will decide which strategy to use for you. I think that this is a good default. Use includes and let rails decide for you.

But, to be honest, that is not what I do…

Using `preload` by default

I (at least for now) prefer to use preload explicitly by default, because that is also the default for includes, and I think that is easier to know what is going to happen just by watching the code.

I use eager_load just when I already know that is significantly faster than the preload.

So, what should you do?

I would say, “Don’t worry to much”, and just pick one of this two strategies.

Do you want to practice?

Practice will help you understand this concepts better. I have prepared some examples/excercises to help you understand how you can use this methods. Give it try!

Examples to learn the difference between preload, includes or eager_load

When is better to use preload or eager_load vs includes?

Using includes by default

Using preload by default

So, what should you do?

Do you want to practice?

Related articles

Using `includes` by default

Using `preload` by default