Serialise

Serialise is a verb with two common senses. First, to publish or present a work in serial form, typically in a periodical or as a sequence of installments. Second, to convert an object or data structure into a format suitable for storage or transmission (serialization), and later reconstruct it (deserialization). The spelling varies by variety of English: serialise and serialisation are British; serialize and serialization are American.

In publishing, serialisation releases a work in successive parts, which can shape structure and pacing and often influences reader engagement and commercial strategy. It has a long history in newspapers and magazines, and many classic novels were first published this way.

In computing, serialization converts in-memory data into a byte stream or text, enabling persistence, network transmission, or interoperability. Common formats include JSON, XML, and YAML for text-based representations, and Protocol Buffers or MessagePack for compact binary forms. Deserialization reverses the process. Challenges include schema evolution, version compatibility, and security risks when processing untrusted data, where specially crafted inputs may trigger code execution or other vulnerabilities.