System


.NET Framework Class Library
SerializableAttribute Class

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

Namespace: System
Assembly: mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)

Syntax

Visual Basic (Declaration)
<ComVisibleAttribute(True)> _
<AttributeUsageAttribute(AttributeTargets.Class Or AttributeTargets.Struct Or AttributeTargets.Enum Or AttributeTargets.Delegate, Inherited:=False)> _
Public NotInheritable Class SerializableAttribute
    Inherits Attribute
Visual Basic (Usage)
Dim instance As SerializableAttribute
C#
[ComVisibleAttribute(true)] 
[AttributeUsageAttribute(AttributeTargets.Class|AttributeTargets.Struct|AttributeTargets.Enum|AttributeTargets.Delegate, Inherited=false)] 
public sealed class SerializableAttribute : Attribute
C++
[ComVisibleAttribute(true)] 
[AttributeUsageAttribute(AttributeTargets::Class|AttributeTargets::Struct|AttributeTargets::Enum|AttributeTargets::Delegate, Inherited=false)] 
public ref class SerializableAttribute sealed : public Attribute
J#
/** @attribute ComVisibleAttribute(true) */ 
/** @attribute AttributeUsageAttribute(AttributeTargets.Class|AttributeTargets.Struct|AttributeTargets.Enum|AttributeTargets.Delegate, Inherited=false) */ 
public final class SerializableAttribute extends Attribute
JScript
ComVisibleAttribute(true) 
AttributeUsageAttribute(AttributeTargets.Class|AttributeTargets.Struct|AttributeTargets.Enum|AttributeTargets.Delegate, Inherited=false) 
public final class SerializableAttribute extends Attribute
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.

All the public and private fields in a type that are marked by the SerializableAttribute are serialized by default, unless the type implements the ISerializable interface to override the serialization process. The default serialization process excludes fields that are marked with the NonSerializedAttribute attribute. 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.

Example

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.

Visual Basic
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
C#
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);
    }
}
C++
#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();
}
J#
import System.*;
import System.IO.*;
import System.Runtime.Serialization.*;
import System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Soap.*;
//import System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary;

public class Test
{
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {        
        //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();
    } //main
} //Test

// A test object that needs to be serialized.
/** @attribute Serializable()
 */
public class TestSimpleObject
{
    public int member1;
    public String member2;
    public String member3;
    public double member4;

    // A field that is not serialized.
    /** @attribute NonSerialized()
     */
    public String member5;

    public TestSimpleObject()
    {
        member1 = 11;
        member2 = "hello";
        member3 = "hello";
        member4 = 3.14159265;
        member5 = "hello world!";
    } //TestSimpleObject

    public void Print()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("member1 = '{0}'", (System.Int32)member1);
        Console.WriteLine("member2 = '{0}'", member2);
        Console.WriteLine("member3 = '{0}'", member3);
        Console.WriteLine("member4 = '{0}'", (System.Double)member4);
        Console.WriteLine("member5 = '{0}'", member5);
    } //Print
} //TestSimpleObject
Inheritance Hierarchy

System.Object
   System.Attribute
    System.SerializableAttribute
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.
Platforms

Windows 98, Windows 2000 SP4, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Starter Edition

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

Version Information

.NET Framework

Supported in: 2.0, 1.1, 1.0
See Also

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Community Content

ameysun
Example - Code

In most of the examples or sample code the closing "}" curley brackets are missing. Even the "}" brackets for if else loops are missing.

Otherwise all the sample code runs without error and all samples are really helpful.

--ameysun

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