XML - XML Serialization

What XML Serialization Is

  • Serialization = the process of converting an in-memory object (from a programming language like Java, C#, Python, etc.) into a format that can be stored or transmitted.

  • XML Serialization = converting an object into an XML representation.

  • Later, the XML can be deserialized back into the original object.

Why It’s Useful

  • Allows data exchange between systems in a standard text format (XML).

  • Makes it possible to:

    • Save objects to files or databases.

    • Send objects over a network (e.g., web services).

    • Reconstruct objects later (via deserialization).

Example (C# style)

Class:

public class Book {
    public string Title { get; set; }
    public string Author { get; set; }
}

Object:

Book b = new Book { Title = "XML Guide", Author = "A. Smith" };

Serialized XML:

<Book>
  <Title>XML Guide</Title>
  <Author>A. Smith</Author>
</Book>

Later, this XML can be deserialized back into a Book object.

Types of Serialization

  1. XML Serialization – Only public data is written into XML.

  2. Binary Serialization – Converts objects into a compact binary format (not human-readable).

  3. JSON Serialization – Converts objects into JSON instead of XML.

Advantages of XML Serialization

  • Human-readable (text format).

  • Platform-independent (any system that understands XML can use it).

  • Interoperable (widely used in web services, APIs).

Disadvantages

  • More verbose than binary or JSON.

  • Slower to process for very large datasets.

In short:
XML Serialization = converting objects into XML so they can be stored, transferred, and reconstructed later.