In PHP, it can be difficult to transport or store complex data structures that extend beyond a single script. To address this, the serialize() function is available that can handle these data structures.

This is particularly useful when working with complex arrays that contain elements of different data types or other arrays, as it allows these structures to be easily stored in a database or file. This article covers complete details of serialize() function in PHP along with syntax, parameters, and an example code.

What is serialize() Function in PHP

The PHP serialize() function can serialize an array, object, or any other complex data structure into a string. This serialized string can be stored in a database, passed to another PHP script, or sent as a parameter in an HTTP request.

When we want to retrieve the original data structure, we can use the unserialize() function to deserialize the string back into its original form.

Syntax

The syntax of the serialize() function is as follows:

Parameter

The serialize() function takes a single parameter, which is the value to be serialized. This can be any PHP data type, including arrays, objects, and scalar values like strings or integers.

Return Value

The return value of the serialize() function is a string that represents the serialized data structure. The output string of this function can be stored inside a file and databases, or it can be transmitted over a network.

The returned value is a string that can be stored anywhere and contains the byte-stream of the value.

The output of serialize() is a binary string that may contain null bytes and therefore should be treated as such when stored or handled. It is recommended to store the serialized data in a BLOB (binary large object) field in a database, rather than a CHAR or TEXT field, this will ensure that the null bytes are handled and saved correctly.

Example Code of serialize() Function in PHP

This example demonstrates how to use the serialize() function in PHP to serialize an array, and then output the serialized data to the screen using the echo statement:

Here we created an array with three elements and then serialized it using the serialize() function. The echo command will print the serialized string on screen.

After running the script, we will see the following output:

This string may look confusing, but it represents the original array in a serialized form. The string represents an array with three elements:

The first element has an index of 0 and a value of “Linuxhint“, with a string length of 9.

The second element has an index of 1 and a value of “PHP“, with a string length of 3.

The third element has an index of 2 and a value of “Tutorial“, with a string length of 8.

The notation used here is specific to PHP’s built-in serialization format, which is used to store and transfer complex data structures between different applications, systems, or platforms. Serialized strings can be converted back to their original PHP data structures using the unserialize() function.

Why We Need serialize() Function in PHP

Here is a list of some features of why we use the serialize() Function in PHP:

• To store complex data structures: The serialize() function allows complex data structures such as arrays, objects, and other data types to be easily stored in a database or file.
• To pass data between different systems: The serialize() function provides a way to pass complex data structures between different systems, as the serialized data can be transmitted as a string and deserialized on the receiving end.
• To maintain data integrity: This function ensures that the data structure remains intact during storage or transmission, as opposed to storing or transmitting individual elements separately.
• To save memory: It can help save memory by reducing the size of the data structure when stored or transmitted as a serialized string, as opposed to storing or transmitting each element separately.
• To simplify data management: The serialize() simplifies data management by providing a standardized way to store and retrieve complex data structures, reducing the amount of code needed to manage these structures.

Difference Between Serialization and Encoding in PHP

Serialization and encoding are two different concepts in PHP.

Serialization is the process of converting an object or data structure into a string format that can be stored or transmitted.

For example, when we want to save an object’s state to a file or database, or when we need to pass an object between different parts of an application. In PHP, the serialize() function is used to serialize objects or data structures into a string format.

Encoding, on the other hand, is the process of converting data from one format to another. In the context of PHP, encoding is often used to convert a string of characters into a format that can be safely transmitted over the internet.

For example, the urlencode() function is used to encode a string for use in a URL, and the htmlentities() function is used to encode special characters in HTML.

In summary, serialization is the process of converting an object or data structure into a string format, while encoding is the process of converting data from one format to another.

Conclusion

The serialize() function can help us to store and retrieve complex data structures in PHP. By understanding the basics of this function, we can easily handle and store complex data in PHP applications. For more detail on the serialize() function, read the article.