Data serialization #software #systemdesign #protobuf #bigdata #serialization #dataengineering

What is Data serialization ?

Data serialization is the process of converting complex data structures, such as objects or arrays, into a format that can be easily transmitted over a network or stored in a file.

Essentially it is the process of converting some in-memory object to a format that could be easily stored or sent over the network.

Why do we need data serialization ?

There are several benefits of using data serialization in applications:

Interoperability: It allows for easy exchange of data between different systems and programming languages, as it converts data into a format that can be easily understood by other systems.
Efficiency: Binary formats like Avro and protobuf are more efficient in terms of data size compared to text-based formats like JSON and XML, which can reduce the amount of bandwidth and storage required for data transfer and storage.
Simplified data storage and retrieval: Serialized data can be easily stored in a file or a database and retrieved later, making it easier to persist data across application sessions.
Data serialization Formats

There are several data serialization formats available. Some popular formats include JSON, XML, Protocol Buffers (protobuf), and Avro

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight text-based format that is easy to read and write, but may not be as efficient as binary formats when it comes to data size.
XML is a markup language that is also text-based and easy to read and write, but can be verbose and may not be as efficient as other formats.
Protobuf and Avro are both binary formats that are more efficient in terms of data size, but may be less human-readable than text-based formats.

#software #systemdesign #protobuf #bigdata #serialization #dataengineering #backenddevelopment #softwaredevelopment