net.sf.mmm.util.serialization.api

Interface Serializer

All Known Implementing Classes:

JavaSerializer

@ComponentSpecification
public interface Serializer

This is the interface to serialize and deserialize arbitrary Java objects. As a default implementation we offer JavaSerializer but there can be many alternative implementations like JSon, GWT RPC, etc.
The call deserialize(serialize(o)) should have behave like creating a deep-clone.

ATTENTION:
Not all objects can be serialized. By default they have to be compliant with Serializable. However, specific implementations may have additional or alternate requirements. E.g. for GWT (Google Web Toolkit) the object has to have a non-arg constructor (may be protected) and shall not have final fields.

Since:

5.0.0

Author:

Joerg Hohwiller (hohwille at users.sourceforge.net)

Method Summary

Modifier and Type	Method and Description
Object	deserialize(byte[] data) De-serializes (or un-marshals) the given serialized data back to the corresponding Object.
byte[]	serialize(Object object) Serializes (or marshals) the given Object to serialized data.

Method Detail

serialize

byte[] serialize(Object object)

Serializes (or marshals) the given Object to serialized data.

Parameters:

object - is the Object to serialize. May be null.

Returns:

the serialized data (payload) representing the given Object. We use byte[] to allow arbitrary data including any binary format. However, this can also be a String encoded e.g. in UTF-8.

deserialize

Object deserialize(byte[] data)

De-serializes (or un-marshals) the given serialized data back to the corresponding Object.

Parameters:

data - is the serialized data.

Returns:

the