nonserial

Nonserial is an adjective and, less commonly, a noun used to describe something that is not part of a series or not produced in serialized form. The term is used across several fields, including publishing, media, computing, and inventory management. In publishing and media, nonserial content refers to works intended to be consumed as a single unit rather than released as multiple episodes or installments. This includes stand-alone novels, feature films, and television programs that are not designed as serial continuations.

In computing and data contexts, nonserial can describe data, objects, or processes that are not serialized into a byte stream for storage or transmission. In programming, non-serializable objects cannot be converted by a given serialization framework, in contrast with objects that implement a serializable interface or otherwise produce a reversible representation. In data transfer or communication, nonserial data may imply parallel or non-sequential transmission, though this usage is less common and often replaced by more specific terminology.

In inventory and manufacturing, nonserial describes items that lack an individual serial number. These parts may be labeled by batch, lot, or model identifiers rather than unique identifiers, affecting tracking, warranties, and recall processes.

Usage notes: The form nonserial (often written non-serial or non-serialized) is somewhat field-specific; writers may prefer non-serialized or nonserialised in other varieties of English. The term is comparatively uncommon outside technical or industry-specific contexts.