The concept of 'cognitive load' refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In educational settings, instructional design often aims to manage cognitive load to optimize learning. According to cognitive load theory, learning is hindered when the working memory is overloaded with extraneous information that does not contribute to schema construction. However, intrinsic load, which is the inherent complexity of the material, cannot be reduced without simplifying the content itself. Effective teaching strategies, such as providing worked examples or using multimedia, can help reduce extraneous load and allow learners to focus on essential information. Recent studies suggest that individual differences in prior knowledge significantly influence how cognitive load is experienced, implying that adaptive learning environments may be necessary to cater to diverse learners.