Marshaller vs Serializer – Difference Between a Marshaller and a Serializer

javaxml

…and unmarshalling/deserializing? Wikipedia's explanation leaves me none-the-wiser! I'm a Java programmer, in case the terminology is used differently in different languages.

Best Answer

Semantics are important here:

Marshalling implies moving the data, it does not imply transforming the data from its native representation or storage. Java Objects can be Marshalled over the wire in their native representation.

Serializing implies transforming the data to some non-native intermediate representation. For example: transforming a Java Object to JSON or XML.

Of course, most systems that Marshal data, Serialize it to some non-native format before they transport it.

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