What is serialization?

Serialization allows for the transmission and storage of data held in a software program's memory.  Unserialization or deserialization likewise converts a serialized set of data and puts it into memory.  Thus serialization can be used, for example, to serialize and save the state of a software program, stop the program and later restart where you left off by unserializing that state information.  Alternatively, serialization can be used to act as a basis to transmit complex sets of data from one program to another.  Such uses of serialization are common with client-server applications.

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