Extensions
Alternative Approaches to Loading and Installing Extensions
#### Downloading Extensions Directly from S3 {#docs:extensions:working_with_extensions::downloading-extensions-directly-from-s3}  
Downloading an extension directly can be helpful when building a [Lambda service](https://aws.amazon.com/pm/lambda/) or container that uses DuckDB.
DuckDB extensions are stored in public S3 buckets, but the directory structure of those buckets is not searchable.
As a result, a direct URL to the file must be used.
To download an extension file directly, use the following format:  
```text
http://extensions.duckdb.org/v⟨duckdb_version⟩/⟨platform_name⟩/⟨extension_name⟩.duckdb_extension.gz
```  
For example:  
```text
http://extensions.duckdb.org/v{{ site.currentduckdbversion }}/windows_amd64/json.duckdb_extension.gz
```  
#### Installing an Extension from an Explicit Path {#docs:extensions:working_with_extensions::installing-an-extension-from-an-explicit-path}  
`INSTALL` can be used with the path to a `.duckdb_extension` file:  
```sql
INSTALL 'path/to/httpfs.duckdb_extension';
```  
Note that compressed `.duckdb_extension.gz` files need to be decompressed beforehand. It is also possible to specify remote paths.  
#### Loading an Extension from an Explicit Path {#docs:extensions:working_with_extensions::loading-an-extension-from-an-explicit-path}  
`LOAD` can be used with the path to a `.duckdb_extension`.
For example, if the file was available at the (relative) path `path/to/httpfs.duckdb_extension`, you can load it as follows:  
```sql
LOAD 'path/to/httpfs.duckdb_extension';
```  
This will skip any currently installed extensions and load the specified extension directly.  
Note that using remote paths for compressed files is currently not possible.  
#### Building and Installing Extensions from Source {#docs:extensions:working_with_extensions::building-and-installing-extensions-from-source}  
For building and installing extensions from source, see the [building guide](#docs:dev:building:build_instructions::building-and-installing-extensions-from-source).  
#### Statically Linking Extensions {#docs:extensions:working_with_extensions::statically-linking-extensions}  
To statically link extensions, follow the [developer documentation's “Using extension config files” section](https://github.com/duckdb/duckdb/blob/main/extension/README.md#using-extension-config-files).