Seriellisering

Seriellisering is a process in computing where an object is converted into a format that can be stored or transmitted and later reconstructed. This format is typically a sequence of bytes, often referred to as a byte stream or serialized data. The primary purpose of seriellisering is to enable the transfer of an object's state across different processes, machines, or even programming languages.

When an object is serialized, its data and structure are captured. This allows the object to be saved to a file, sent over a network, or passed between different applications. The reverse process, deserialization, takes the serialized data and reconstructs the original object with its state intact.

Various programming languages and frameworks provide mechanisms for seriellisering objects. Common formats include JSON, XML, Protocol Buffers, and language-specific binary formats. The choice of format often depends on factors such as performance requirements, readability, interoperability needs, and the complexity of the data being serialized.

Seriellisering is fundamental to many computing tasks, including remote procedure calls (RPCs), data persistence, inter-process communication (IPC), and caching. It facilitates the sharing and preservation of complex data structures, making it a crucial technique for building distributed and persistent applications.