isSerializable

isSerializable is a concept used in many programming environments to indicate whether a value, object, or type can be converted into a serialized form and later reconstructed. Serialization transforms an object into a sequence of bytes or a textual representation that can be stored or transmitted and then deserialized back to an equivalent object.

General approach often hinges on language-specific mechanisms. A type is typically considered serializable if its runtime representation can be encoded by the framework’s serializer. This usually requires that the type’s fields are serializable themselves, may exclude non-serializable data, and might involve custom rules for how to handle special cases or versioning.

Java provides a clear example: a class is eligible for standard serialization when it implements the java.io.Serializable interface. At runtime, serializability can be checked by testing whether an object is an instance of Serializable. Transient fields are skipped during serialization, and serialVersionUID helps manage version compatibility.

C#. In .NET, a type is serializable if it is marked with the [Serializable] attribute or implements the ISerializable interface. The Type.IsSerializable property can be used to query this status. Custom serialization can be implemented via GetObjectData.

Other languages vary: some rely on library-specific serializers (for example, JSON or XML serializers) and may require explicit annotation or may succeed only if all members are serializable. In languages like Python, serialization often involves trying to serialize with a library (such as pickle or json) and handling failures, rather than a universal isSerializable predicate.

Limitations include dependency on the chosen serializer, handling of non-serializable resources, security considerations, and the need for versioning strategies to maintain compatibility across changes.

See also: Serialization, Java Serializable, Type.IsSerializable, ISerializable, Pickle (Python).