.NET in-built support for serialization

Serialization is the crucial process of transforming an object's state into a format suitable for persistent storage or transportation purposes. Within the .NET class library, two distinct mechanisms are provided to facilitate this process: XmlSerializer and SoapFormatter/BinaryFormatter. Microsoft employs XmlSerializer for Web Services, while SoapFormatter/BinaryFormatter is utilized for remoting. These mechanisms are also readily available for utilization within your own code.

The application of Binary serialization ensures the preservation of type fidelity, thereby proving valuable in maintaining an object's state across various invocations of an application. Considering that XML represents an open standard, it emerges as a compelling option for sharing data across the vast expanse of the Web. Similarly, SOAP, being an open standard as well, possesses an inherent appeal for such purposes.

XML Serialization

XML Serialization is a essential procedure that entails the serialization of a .NET Object to XML format or the reverse operation of deserializing XML to a .NET Object. The principal objective of XML serialization within the .NET Framework is to facilitate the seamless conversion between XML documents and streams, and objects within the common language runtime. This transformative process effectively renders an object into a transportable form, ensuring its easy transmission and reception.