How to load a resource in advance

Unity Engine
1

How can I load a resource at the beginning of the game (in the Start method for example) and instantiate it when needed?

Regards,
Jorge Maldonado

2

Get a reference to it using Resources.Load and instantiate it from that reference later.

3

Can you please give me a code example?

4 
GameObject prefab = (GameObject)Resources.Load (pathToPrefab));
...
Instantiate (prefab);
5

The resource is an explosion which I have to load and instantiate. My intention is to reduce the time it takes to start the explosion effect by loading the resource in advance and just instantiate it at the moment of a collision, but it seems there is not a big difference. Is there any other approach?

6

You can always Instantiate it beforehand and activate it when the collision occurs.

7

Yes, that is what I am doing, but there is still a very small amount of time between the collision and the explosion effect. What I want to do is to eliminate such amount of time as much as possible. Any suggestion?