java - Use of Serializable other than Writing& Reading object to/from File

Question

In Which Cases it is a good coding practice to use implements serializable other than Writing & Reading object to/from file.In a project i went through code. A class using implements serializable even if in that class/project no any Writing/Reading objects to/from file?

Answer 1

If the object leaves the JVM it was created in, the class should implement Serializable.

Serialization is a method by which an object can be represented as a sequence of bytes that includes the object's data as well as information about the object's type and the types of data stored in the object.

After a serialized object has been written into a file, it can be read from the file and deserialized that is, the type information and bytes that represent the object and its data can be used to recreate the object in memory.

This is the main purpose of de-serialization. To get the object information, object type, variable type information from a written(loosely speaking) representation of an object. And hence serialization is required in the first place, to make this possible.

So, whenever, your object has a possibility of leaving the JVM, the program is being executed in, you should make the class, implement Serializable.

Reading/Writing objects into files (Memory), or passing an object over internet or any other type of connection. Whenever the object, leaves the JVM it was created in, it should implement Serializable, so that it can be serialized and deserialized for recognition once it enters back into another/same JVM.

Many good reads at :

• 1: Why Java needs Serializable interface?
• 2: What is the purpose of Serialization in Java?