# Source: https://docs.comfy.org/built-in-nodes/CheckpointLoaderSimple.md

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# CheckpointLoaderSimple - ComfyUI Built-in Node Documentation

> The CheckpointLoaderSimple node is used to load model files from specified locations and decompose them into three core components: the main model, text encoder, and image encoder/decoder.

This is a model loader node that loads model files from specified locations and decomposes them into three core components: the main model, text encoder, and image encoder/decoder.

This node automatically detects all model files in the `ComfyUI/models/checkpoints` folder, as well as additional paths configured in your `extra_model_paths.yaml` file.

1. **Model Compatibility**: Ensure the selected model is compatible with your workflow. Different model types (such as SD1.5, SDXL, Flux, etc.) need to be paired with corresponding samplers and other nodes
2. **File Management**: Place model files in the `ComfyUI/models/checkpoints` folder, or configure other paths through extra\_model\_paths.yaml
3. **Interface Refresh**: If new model files are added while ComfyUI is running, you need to refresh the browser (Ctrl+R) to see the new files in the dropdown list

## Inputs

| Parameter   | Data Type | Input Type | Default | Range                                 | Description                                                                                                       |
| ----------- | --------- | ---------- | ------- | ------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `ckpt_name` | STRING    | Widget     | null    | All model files in checkpoints folder | Select the checkpoint model file name to load, which determines the AI model used for subsequent image generation |

## Outputs

| Output Name | Data Type | Description                                                                                                     |
| ----------- | --------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `MODEL`     | MODEL     | The main diffusion model used for image denoising generation, the core component of AI image creation           |
| `CLIP`      | CLIP      | The model used for encoding text prompts, converting text descriptions into information that AI can understand  |
| `VAE`       | VAE       | The model used for image encoding and decoding, responsible for converting between pixel space and latent space |