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.NET Framework Class Library
SerializableAttribute Class

Indicates that a class can be serialized. This class cannot be inherited.

Inheritance Hierarchy
SystemObject
   SystemAttribute
    SystemSerializableAttribute

Namespace:   System
Assembly:  mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)
Syntax
<[%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_0_0_0%]([%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_0_0_1%].Class Or [%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_0_0_2%].Struct Or [%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_0_0_3%].Enum Or [%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_0_0_4%].Delegate, Inherited := False)> _
<[%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_0_0_5%](True)> _
Public NotInheritable Class SerializableAttribute _
	Inherits [%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_0_0_6%]
[[%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_1_0_0%]([%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_1_0_1%].Class|[%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_1_0_2%].Struct|[%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_1_0_3%].Enum|[%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_1_0_4%].Delegate, Inherited = false)]
[[%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_1_0_5%](true)]
public sealed class SerializableAttribute : [%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_1_0_6%]
[[%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_2_0_0%]([%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_2_0_1%]::Class|[%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_2_0_2%]::Struct|[%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_2_0_3%]::Enum|[%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_2_0_4%]::Delegate, Inherited = false)]
[[%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_2_0_5%](true)]
public ref class SerializableAttribute sealed : public [%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_2_0_6%]
[<[%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_3_0_0%]>]
[<[%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_3_0_1%]([%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_3_0_2%].Class|[%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_3_0_3%].Struct|[%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_3_0_4%].Enum|[%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_3_0_5%].Delegate, Inherited = false)>]
[<[%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_3_0_6%](true)>]
type SerializableAttribute =  
    class 
        inherit [%$TOPIC/bcfsa90a_en-us_VS_110_2_0_3_0_7%] 
    end

The SerializableAttribute type exposes the following members.

Constructors
  NameDescription
Public method Supported by the XNA Framework SerializableAttributeInitializes a new instance of the SerializableAttribute class.
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Properties
  NameDescription
Public property TypeIdWhen implemented in a derived class, gets a unique identifier for this Attribute. (Inherited from Attribute.)
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Methods
  NameDescription
Public method Supported by the XNA Framework EqualsInfrastructure. Returns a value that indicates whether this instance is equal to a specified object. (Inherited from Attribute.)
Public method Supported by the XNA Framework GetHashCodeReturns the hash code for this instance. (Inherited from Attribute.)
Public method Supported by the XNA Framework GetTypeGets the Type of the current instance. (Inherited from Object.)
Public method IsDefaultAttributeWhen overridden in a derived class, indicates whether the value of this instance is the default value for the derived class. (Inherited from Attribute.)
Public method Supported by the XNA Framework MatchWhen overridden in a derived class, returns a value that indicates whether this instance equals a specified object. (Inherited from Attribute.)
Public method Supported by the XNA Framework ToStringReturns a string that represents the current object. (Inherited from Object.)
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Explicit Interface Implementations
  NameDescription
Explicit interface implemetation Private method _AttributeGetIDsOfNamesMaps a set of names to a corresponding set of dispatch identifiers. (Inherited from Attribute.)
Explicit interface implemetation Private method _AttributeGetTypeInfoRetrieves the type information for an object, which can be used to get the type information for an interface. (Inherited from Attribute.)
Explicit interface implemetation Private method _AttributeGetTypeInfoCountRetrieves the number of type information interfaces that an object provides (either 0 or 1). (Inherited from Attribute.)
Explicit interface implemetation Private method _AttributeInvokeProvides access to properties and methods exposed by an object. (Inherited from Attribute.)
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Remarks

Apply the SerializableAttribute attribute to a type to indicate that instances of this type can be serialized. The common language runtime throws SerializationException if any type in the graph of objects being serialized does not have the SerializableAttribute attribute applied.

Apply the SerializableAttribute attribute even if the class also implements the ISerializable interface to control the serialization process.

When you apply the SerializableAttribute attribute to a type, all private and public fields are serialized by default. You can control serialization more granularly by implementing the ISerializable interface to override the serialization process.

Or you can exclude fields from serialization by applying the NonSerializedAttribute attribute to the field. If a field of a serializable type contains a pointer, a handle, or some other data structure that is specific to a particular environment, and cannot be meaningfully reconstituted in a different environment, then you might want to apply the NonSerializedAttribute attribute to that field.

For more information about using attributes, see Extending Metadata Using Attributes. For more information about serialization, see System.Runtime.Serialization.

Examples

The following example demonstrates serialization of an object that is marked with the SerializableAttribute attribute. To use the BinaryFormatter instead of the SoapFormatter, uncomment the appropriate lines.

Imports System
Imports System.IO
Imports System.Runtime.Serialization
Imports System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Soap




Public Class Test

   Public Shared Sub Main()

      ' Creates a new TestSimpleObject object. 
      Dim obj As New TestSimpleObject()

      Console.WriteLine("Before serialization the object contains: ")
      obj.Print()

      ' Opens a file and serializes the object into it in binary format. 
      Dim stream As Stream = File.Open("data.xml", FileMode.Create)
      Dim formatter As New SoapFormatter()



      formatter.Serialize(stream, obj)
      stream.Close()

      ' Empties obj.
      obj = Nothing 

      ' Opens file "data.xml" and deserializes the object from it.
      stream = File.Open("data.xml", FileMode.Open)
      formatter = New SoapFormatter()



      obj = CType(formatter.Deserialize(stream), TestSimpleObject)
      stream.Close()

      Console.WriteLine("")
      Console.WriteLine("After deserialization the object contains: ")
      obj.Print()

   End Sub 'Main

End Class 'Test


' A test object that needs to be serialized.
<Serializable()> Public Class TestSimpleObject

   Public member1 As Integer 
   Public member2 As String 
   Public member3 As String 
   Public member4 As Double 

   ' A member that is not serialized.
   <NonSerialized()> Public member5 As String   


   Public Sub New()     
      member1 = 11
      member2 = "hello"
      member3 = "hello"
      member4 = 3.14159265
      member5 = "hello world!" 
   End Sub 'New 


   Public Sub Print()      
      Console.WriteLine("member1 = '{0}'", member1)
      Console.WriteLine("member2 = '{0}'", member2)
      Console.WriteLine("member3 = '{0}'", member3)
      Console.WriteLine("member4 = '{0}'", member4)
      Console.WriteLine("member5 = '{0}'", member5)
   End Sub 'Print

End Class 'TestSimpleObject
using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Runtime.Serialization;
using System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Soap;
//using System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary; 

public class Test {
   public static void Main()  {

      //Creates a new TestSimpleObject object.
      TestSimpleObject obj = new TestSimpleObject();

      Console.WriteLine("Before serialization the object contains: ");
      obj.Print();

      //Opens a file and serializes the object into it in binary format.
      Stream stream = File.Open("data.xml", FileMode.Create);
      SoapFormatter formatter = new SoapFormatter();

      //BinaryFormatter formatter = new BinaryFormatter();

      formatter.Serialize(stream, obj);
      stream.Close();

      //Empties obj.
      obj = null;

      //Opens file "data.xml" and deserializes the object from it.
      stream = File.Open("data.xml", FileMode.Open);
      formatter = new SoapFormatter();

      //formatter = new BinaryFormatter();

      obj = (TestSimpleObject)formatter.Deserialize(stream);
      stream.Close();

      Console.WriteLine("");
      Console.WriteLine("After deserialization the object contains: ");
      obj.Print();
   }
}


// A test object that needs to be serialized.
[Serializable()]		
public class TestSimpleObject  {

    public int member1;
    public string member2;
    public string member3;
    public double member4;

    // A field that is not serialized.
    [NonSerialized()] public string member5; 

    public TestSimpleObject() {

        member1 = 11;
        member2 = "hello";
        member3 = "hello";
        member4 = 3.14159265;
        member5 = "hello world!";
    }


    public void Print() {

        Console.WriteLine("member1 = '{0}'", member1);
        Console.WriteLine("member2 = '{0}'", member2);
        Console.WriteLine("member3 = '{0}'", member3);
        Console.WriteLine("member4 = '{0}'", member4);
        Console.WriteLine("member5 = '{0}'", member5);
    }
}
#using <system.dll>
#using <system.messaging.dll>
#using <System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Soap.dll>

using namespace System;
using namespace System::IO;
using namespace System::Runtime::Serialization::Formatters::Soap;

// A test object that needs to be serialized.

[Serializable]
ref class TestSimpleObject
{
private:
   int member1;
   String^ member2;
   String^ member3;
   double member4;

public:

   // A field that is not serialized.

   [NonSerialized]
   String^ member5;
   TestSimpleObject()
   {
      member1 = 11;
      member2 = "hello";
      member3 = "hello";
      member4 = 3.14159265;
      member5 = "hello world!";
   }

   void Print()
   {
      Console::WriteLine( "member1 = ' {0}'", member1 );
      Console::WriteLine( "member2 = ' {0}'", member2 );
      Console::WriteLine( "member3 = ' {0}'", member3 );
      Console::WriteLine( "member4 = ' {0}'", member4 );
      Console::WriteLine( "member5 = ' {0}'", member5 );
   }

};

int main()
{

   //Creates a new TestSimpleObject object.
   TestSimpleObject^ obj = gcnew TestSimpleObject;
   Console::WriteLine( "Before serialization the Object* contains: " );
   obj->Print();

   //Opens a file and serializes the object into it in binary format.
   Stream^ stream = File::Open( "data.xml", FileMode::Create );
   SoapFormatter^ formatter = gcnew SoapFormatter;

   //BinaryFormatter* formatter = new BinaryFormatter();
   formatter->Serialize( stream, obj );
   stream->Close();

   //Empties obj.
   obj = nullptr;

   //Opens file S"data.xml" and deserializes the object from it.
   stream = File::Open( "data.xml", FileMode::Open );
   formatter = gcnew SoapFormatter;

   //formatter = new BinaryFormatter();
   obj = dynamic_cast<TestSimpleObject^>(formatter->Deserialize( stream ));
   stream->Close();
   Console::WriteLine( "" );
   Console::WriteLine( "After deserialization the object contains: " );
   obj->Print();
}
Version Information

.NET Framework

Supported in: 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3.0, 2.0, 1.1, 1.0

.NET Framework Client Profile

Supported in: 4, 3.5 SP1
Platforms

Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, Windows 7, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 (Server Core Role not supported), Windows Server 2008 R2 (Server Core Role supported with SP1 or later; Itanium not supported)

The .NET Framework does not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.

Thread Safety
Any public static (Shared in Visual Basic) members of this type are thread safe. Any instance members are not guaranteed to be thread safe.