Loading individual attribute values on catalog/product instances.

example.php

<?php

require('htdocs/app/Mage.php');
umask(0);
Mage::setIsDeveloperMode(true);
Mage::app();

$attributeCode = 'description'; // any attribute code

// load model without only static attribute values
/** @var Mage_Catalog_Model_Product $product */
$product = Mage::getModel('catalog/product')->getCollection()->getFirstItem();
// proof the attribute is not set
var_dump($product->getData($attributeCode));

// load the individual attribute value without reloading the whole model
/** @var Mage_Catalog_Model_Resource_Product $resource */
$resource = $product->getResource();
$attribute = $resource->getAttribute($attributeCode);
$result = $resource->getAttributeRawValue($product->getId(), $attribute, $product->getStoreId());
$product->setData($attributeCode, $result);
$attribute->getBackend()->afterLoad($product);

// proof the attribute is now set on the model
var_dump($product->getData($attributeCode));


echo "special case media_gallery only needs the backend model afterLoad call\n";

$product = Mage::getModel('catalog/product')->getCollection()->getFirstItem();
$attributeCode = 'media_gallery';
$attribute = $product->getResource()->getAttribute($attributeCode);
$attribute->getBackend()->afterLoad($product);

var_dump($product->getData($attributeCode));