CArchive

CArchive is a class in the Microsoft Foundation Class (MFC) library, which is part of the Microsoft Visual C++ development environment. It is designed to facilitate the serialization of objects, allowing for the easy storage and retrieval of data. Serialization is the process of converting an object's state into a format that can be stored or transmitted, and then reconstructing the object from that format.

The CArchive class provides a stream-based interface for reading from and writing to files or other storage media. It supports both binary and text formats, making it versatile for various data storage needs. The class includes methods for reading and writing primitive data types, such as integers, floats, and strings, as well as more complex data structures.

One of the key features of CArchive is its ability to handle versioning of data. This allows for the storage of multiple versions of an object's state, which can be useful for backward compatibility and data migration. The class also supports the serialization of arrays and collections of objects, making it a powerful tool for managing complex data structures.

CArchive is typically used in conjunction with the CObject class, which provides the base functionality for serialization. By deriving from CObject and implementing the Serialize method, a class can be made serializable. This method is called by the CArchive object to read or write the object's data.

In summary, CArchive is a fundamental class in the MFC library that simplifies the process of serializing objects. It provides a stream-based interface for reading and writing data, supports both binary and text formats, and includes features for versioning and handling complex data structures.