Automatic Serialization

Automatic serialization is a programming concept where data structures or objects are automatically converted into a format suitable for storage or transmission, such as JSON, XML, or binary, without requiring manual coding for each field. It is commonly implemented in frameworks and libraries to simplify tasks like saving data to files, sending it over networks, or caching. This process often involves reflection or metadata to map object properties to serialized formats.

Also known as: Auto-serialization, Automatic marshalling, Reflection-based serialization, Object serialization, Data serialization

Why learn Automatic Serialization?

Developers should use automatic serialization to reduce boilerplate code and minimize errors when handling data persistence, API communication, or distributed systems, as it automates the conversion between in-memory objects and serialized formats. It is particularly useful in web development for JSON APIs, in microservices for message passing, and in applications requiring object-relational mapping (ORM) or caching mechanisms.

Learning Resources

• docs: Microsoft Docs: Serialization in .NET
• tutorial: Java Tutorial: Object Serialization
• video: YouTube: Automatic Serialization in Python with Pydantic
• docs: Article: JSON Serialization in JavaScript