Logtalk reference manual
Source file and object directive: initialization/1
Contents > Reference Manual > Directives > initialization/1

## initialization/1

#### Description

    initialization(Goal)

When used within an object, this directive defines a goal to be called after the object has been loaded into memory. When used at a global level within a source file, this directive defines a goal to be called after the compiled source file is loaded into memory.

Multiple initialization directives can be used in a source file or in an object. Their goals will be called in order at loading time.

Categories and protocols cannot contain initialization directives as the initialization goals would lack a complete execution context which is only available for objects.

Although technically a global `initialization/1` directive in a source file is a Prolog directive, calls to Logtalk built-in predicates from it are usually compiled to improve performance and providing better support for embedded applications.

#### Template and modes

    initialization(@callable)

#### Examples

    :- initialization(init).