serializing

Serialization is the process of converting an in-memory object or data structure into a format that can be stored or transmitted and later reconstructed. Deserialization is the reverse operation, restoring the original object from the serialized form.

Formats for serialized data vary. Text-based formats include JSON, XML, YAML, and CSV, which are human readable. Binary formats such as Protocol Buffers, MessagePack, CBOR, and Thrift tend to be more compact and faster to parse, often at the cost of human readability and the need for explicit schemas.

Serialization is used for persistent storage, caching, inter-process communication, remote procedure calls, and data interchange between heterogeneous systems. It enables objects to be saved to disk, sent over a network, or exchanged between applications written in different languages.

Key concepts include language-neutrality, schemas, and versioning. A serialized form may be self-describing or depend on an external schema. Compatibility concerns arise when data structures evolve, requiring strategies for forward or backward compatibility, field evolution, and careful defaulting.

Performance considerations cover the size of the serialized data and the speed of serialization and deserialization. Streaming interfaces can handle large datasets by processing data incrementally rather than loading everything into memory at once.

Security aspects are important, as deserialization can introduce security risks. Validation of input, avoiding execution of code during deserialization, and using trusted libraries are common best practices.

Marshaling is sometimes used synonymously with serialization, though some ecosystems distinguish the terms by context. Overall, serialization supports persistence, interoperability, and communication across platforms.