Marshal Data Serialization
Marshal is a module for serializing and deserializing Ruby objects. It converts complex Ruby objects into a byte stream, which can be stored, transmitted, and later reconstituted into the original object.
- Since:1995
- Changelog:github.com
- Discord:@ruby
- Docs:ruby-doc.org
- Github Topic:ruby-marshal
- License:www.ruby-lang.org
- Official:www.ruby-lang.org
- Reddit:r/ruby
- Repository:github.com
- Twitter:@ruby_lang
#What is Marshal?
Ruby’s Marshal module is a built-in data serialization feature in the Ruby programming language. It allows developers to convert a Ruby object into a binary stream, which can be stored or transmitted to another system. The Marshal module provides a way to preserve the state of an object and restore it later, making it a useful tool for caching, sharing data between processes, and creating backups.
#Marshal Key Features
Some of the most recognizable features of Ruby’s Marshal module include:
- Support for a wide range of data types, including basic data types, arrays, hashes, and user-defined classes.
- Automatic handling of circular references, allowing developers to serialize complex object graphs without worrying about infinite loops.
- Efficient binary serialization format, which takes up less space than text-based formats like JSON or YAML.
- Security features like a whitelist of allowed classes to prevent deserialization attacks.
#Marshal Use-Cases
Some common use cases for Ruby’s Marshal module include:
- Caching: Marshaling a Ruby object to disk can be an efficient way to cache data between requests or processes.
- Inter-process communication: Marshal can be used to pass data between different processes or machines.
- Data backup and restore: Marshal can be used to save the state of an object to disk and restore it later, which can be useful for creating backups or restoring from a crash.
#Marshal Summary
Ruby’s Marshal module is a built-in data serialization feature in Ruby that allows developers to convert objects into a binary stream, which can be stored or transmitted to other systems. It provides a range of features, including support for various data types, efficient binary serialization, and automatic handling of circular references, making it a useful tool for caching, inter-process communication, and data backup and restore.
