Methods and apparatus for loading data into a database system using links to data. In one implementation, a database system includes: one or more data storage facilities for use in storing data composing records in tables of a database; one or more processing modules configured to manage the data stored in the data-storage facilities; and a database management component configured to load data into the data storage facilities using one or more links received in a request from a client system, where each link indicates a server connection and a storage location for data corresponding to the link.