Object Serialize and Unserialize

Serialize and Unserialize?

An online tool to Serialize and Unserialize data objects. It uses the PHP Serialize function to serialize PHP JSON Array. Use this free visual editor to modify your PHP serialized data without needing to unserialize it.
Converts serialized data, Array, Object, JSON, XML, INI, HTTPQuery to unserialized data json, xml, ini, http query output data structure. The output can be displayed in var_export, var_dump, or print_r formatting.

What is object serialization?

Object serialization is the process of turning structured data into a format that permits it to be shared or stored in a way that allows it to be recovered. In some circumstances, the secondary goal of data serialization is to lower the size of the data, which reduces the amount of disc space or bandwidth required.

The process of transforming an item into a stream of bytes to store or transport it to memory, a database, or a file is serialization. Its primary purpose is to save the state of an object so that it can be recreated later.

Deserialization is the opposite of serialization. Serialization allows the developer to save the state of an object and re-create it as needed, providing storage of objects as well as data exchange.

How does serialize online work?

• Select the appropriate input format from the select options
• Type, paste, or upload your text data into the input box.
• Select the desired output format form the select options.
• Click 'Convert' to deserailize or deserialize your string.
• After you have converted your data, you can "Download" or "Copy to Clipboard".
• You can paste the code into your source code or text file.

PHP Example

$array = array('website', 'website development', 'web design', 'programming');
$serializedArray = serialize($array);
// output
a:4:{i:0;s:7:”website”;i:1;s:19:”website development”;i:2;s:10:”web design”;i:3;s:11:”programming”;}

Serialization in Object-Oriented Programming Languages

Serialization is the process of transforming object state into a format that can be sent or stored in today's object-oriented computer languages. Serialization (marshalling) processes are the inverse of deserialization (unmarshalling) activities.

It's a low-level method, therefore endianness, memory size, number representation, object references, recursive object connections, and other technical difficulties should be considered.

Diving into unserialize()

The unserialize function converts from serialized data to actual data. By unserializing the data, we convert it back to the PHP code.

Unserialize() Function: The unserialize() is an inbuilt function PHP that is used to unserialize the given serialized array to get back to the original value of the complex array, $myvar.

According to PHP docs, unserialize() “creates a PHP value from a stored representation” and ”takes a single serialized variable and converts it back into a PHP value”.