Serialization and Deserialization in C# and Serialization usages with an example

Serialization:

Serialization is the process of convert of .Net object into another format like xml or Binary format.

This process used when we need save the object data as a file or transfer across through the network, so this type conversion is called as serialization.

The different types of serialization are

· Binary Serialization

· XML Serialization

· SOAP Serialization

Binary Serialization

Binary serialization is the process where you convert your .NET objects into byte stream. In binary serialization all the public, private, even those which are read only, members are serialized and converted into bytes. So when you want a complete conversion of your objects to bytes then you can make use of binary serialization.

When to use Binary Serialization

Object contains secure data then you can go with binary serialization, because it’s not easily human readable its completely convert the whole format.

Its file size is very small

If the two deserialize system has same also you can use Binary Serialization.

XML Serialization

It’s the process .Net object state is transformed into xml format in xml serialization.so the whole object has stored as xml file.

In XML serialization only the public properties and fields of the objects are converted into XML. The private members are not taken into consideration in XML serialization.

When to use XML Serialization

If you have an application in different platform then you can use XML Serialization.

If you are going to use only public members then you can use XML Serialization.

SOAP Serialization

It likes XML serialization. When you serialize object to SOAP format it conforms to the SOAP specification.

Example for XML Serialization:

Serialize the Object:

Initially I create one class for doing serialize

[XmlRoot("serialName")]         public class ser     {         [XmlElement("Name1")]         public String str1;         [XmlElement("Name2")]         public String str2;         [XmlElement("Name3")]         public String str3;     }

XML Serialization Code:

Here I create new object for class and convert into xml format and save the file as new.xml

ser s = new ser();         s.str1 = "name11";         s.str2 = "name22";         s.str3 = "name33";         FileStream str = new FileStream(Server.MapPath("new.xml"), FileMode.Create);         XmlSerializer xmls = new XmlSerializer(s.GetType());         xmls.Serialize(str, s);         str.Dispose();

XML Deserialization Code:

Here I Deserialze the convert xml object in to class

ser s = new ser();         StreamReader strread;         strread = new StreamReader(Server.MapPath("new.xml"));         XmlSerializer xmls = new XmlSerializer(s.GetType());         s = (ser)xmls.Deserialize(strread);         strread.Close();

Example for Binary Serialization:

Serialize the Object:

Initially I create one class for doing serialize

[Serializable]     public class ser     {         public String str1;         public String str2;         public String str3;     }

Binary Serialization Code:

Here I create new object for class and convert into xml format and save the file as new.xml

Instead of class you can convert string type also..

ser s = new ser();         s.str1 = "name1";         s.str2 = "name2";         s.str3 = "name3";         string stre = "vijay";         FileStream Fs = new FileStream(Server.MapPath("Bin.data"), FileMode.Create);         BinaryFormatter BF = new BinaryFormatter();         BF.Serialize(Fs, s);         Fs.Close();

Binary Deserialization Code:

Here I Deserialze the convert xml object  in to class

ser s = new ser();         FileStream Fs = new FileStream(Server.MapPath("Bin.data"), FileMode.Open);         BinaryFormatter BF = new BinaryFormatter();         s = (ser)BF.Deserialize(Fs);         Fs.Close();