Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Java Java Data Structures Organizing Data Serialization

Went over my head

I got really lost in the Serialization course. Could some help me in understanding what it is and how to do it. Thank you :)

Allan Clark
Allan Clark
10,810 Points

Thank me with points bruh bruh ;)

1 Answer

Allan Clark
Allan Clark
10,810 Points

Serialization is the process of converting an object into a stream of bytes in order to store the object or transmit it to memory, a database, or a file. Its main purpose is to save the state of an object in order to be able to recreate it when needed. The reverse process is called deserialization. (source:https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms233843.aspx)

Basically Serialization lets you permanently store an object in memory or a file or whatever independent of the program itself. Objects that are not serialized are lost as soon as the program stops running.

thx

Manish Giri
Manish Giri
16,266 Points

Speaking of serialization, a good idea might be (for Microsoft) to serialize their URL's so it doesn't point to an invalid URL six months later!