SharePoint: ClientContext.Load Method Cannot be Loaded

This blog will help you to understand why ClientContext.Load method gives you an error when you are missing a reference.

Introduction

While working with Client Context you might have come across this error in Visual Studio;
 
'Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.ClientContext' does not contain a definition for 'Load' and no extension method 'Load' accepting a first argument of type 'Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.ClientContext' could be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference).



Solution

The reason for the load method error is as follows:

• ClientContext inherits from ClientRuntimeContext.
  
  
• ClientContext is defined in Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.dll.
  
  
• ClientRuntimeContext is defined in Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.Runtime.dll.
  
  
• ClientRuntimeContext defines the Load method.

Add Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.Runtime.dll along with Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.dll to project assembly references. Now you should be good to go.

Happy SharePointing !!!