The **shader-loader** is a Webpack loader that lets developers `require()` or import GLSL shader files (vertex/fragment shaders) directly in their JavaScript bundles, automatically inlining them or resolving `#include`‑style chunk references (e.g., `$snoise`). It’s aimed at WebGL/WebGL‑based projects using Webpack 2 or 3 who want a simple, loader‑based way to manage and compose shader code alongside their application code.