losemfor

losemfor is a hypothetical data serialization format introduced in theoretical discussions of cross-language data interchange. The name stands for Lossless Self-describing Format for Object Resources. The concept is used to illustrate how a compact binary encoding can carry both data and its schema in a self-contained package, enabling decoders to interpret content without external documentation.

Its core design goals include lossless encoding, self-description, and interoperability across programming languages. A losemfor document consists of a header followed by a sequence of data blocks. Each block carries a type tag, a length field, and a value. The top-level container is a resource bundle with a magic number, a version identifier, and an optional schema reference.

Schemas in losemfor are optional but encouraged. When present, schemas describe allowed fields and their types, enabling schema-aware decoding while preserving backward-compatibility. Versioning supports forward and backward compatibility through explicit forward-compatible changes and deprecated markers. Streaming decoding is supported, allowing partial reads of large payloads.

Usage examples are primarily hypothetical in this article. A user object might be encoded as a block with type object, containing fields such as id, name, and email, with each field encoded as a sub-block. The self-describing header allows a generic decoder to validate and present data without external schema files.

See also: JSON, CBOR, Protocol Buffers. Notes: losemfor is a fictional construct used here to illustrate data-format design considerations.