Serializable

Serializable is a property of data or objects that allows them to be converted into a sequence of bytes or a text representation for storage, transmission, and later reconstruction in an equivalent form. The process of converting to the representation is serialization, while rebuilding the original object from the representation is deserialization. Serialization supports persistence, inter-process communication, and cross-language data exchange, and can use either text-based or binary formats.

Common formats include JSON, XML, and YAML (text-based) as well as binary schemas such as Protocol Buffers, MessagePack, and language-specific binary forms. Many programming languages provide built-in support or libraries for serialization: Java offers a marker interface for default serialization; .NET provides a Serializable attribute and ISerializable for customization; Python has the pickle module; JavaScript uses JSON.stringify and JSON.parse; C and C++ rely on libraries or custom encoding schemes.

Key considerations include handling object graphs with references, preserving version compatibility, and ensuring security. Deserialization from untrusted input can expose systems to code execution or data corruption, so practices such as type whitelisting, digital signatures, and schema validation are recommended. Versioning strategies, including explicit version fields or stable schemas, help maintain compatibility across software updates. Some ecosystems discourage or restrict certain binary serializers due to security or portability concerns, favoring safer or more interoperable formats.

Common use cases for serialization include persisting objects to storage, caching serialized data, sending messages over networks, and enabling remote procedure calls or microservice communication across different languages. Understanding the trade-offs between formats, performance, and security is essential when choosing a serialization approach.