Serialization
process of translating data structures or object state into a format that can be stored and reconstructed later in the same or another computer environment
In computing, serialization (or serialisation, also referred to as pickling in Python) is the process of translating a data structure or object state into a format that can be stored (e.g. files in secondary storage devices, data buffers in primary storage devices) or transmitted (e.g. data streams over computer networks) and reconstructed later (possibly in a different computer environment). When the resulting series of bits is reread according to the serialization format, it can be used to create a semantically identical clone of the original object. For many complex objects, such as those that make extensive use of references, this process is not straightforward. Serialization of objects does not include any of their associated methods with which they were previously linked.
This process of serializing an object is also called marshalling in some situations. The opposite operation, extracting a data structure from a series of bytes, is deserialization (also called unserialization or unmarshalling).
In networking equipment hardware, the part that is responsible for serialization and deserialization is commonly called SerDes.
Uses
Uses of serialization include:
transfer across wires and networks (messaging).
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Serialization” is process of translating data structures or object state into a format that can be stored and reconstructed later in the same or another computer environment. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Serialization, process and translating, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “process of translating data structures or object state into a format that can be stored and reconstructed later in the same or another computer environment” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
The citation trail is more important than the brevity of the summary: it shows where individual claims can be examined in context. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 1, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q1127410. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
The absence of detail may reflect summary conventions rather than a lack of surviving documentation. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
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The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Serialization”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Serialization primary sources, Serialization archive and Serialization research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Serialization”?
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This entry incorporates text from “Serialization” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.