Serialize and deserialize a Python object

This post will discuss how to serialize and deserialize an object in Python.

1. Using `pickle.dump()` function

Python offers a pickle module that implements binary protocols for serializing and deserializing a Python object.

The idea is to use the pickle.dump(obj, file) function, which converts the Python object obj into a byte stream and then writes it to the file object file. To do the inverse, i.e., convert the byte stream from a binary file back into a Python object, use the pickle.load() function.

import pickle

# object to be serialized

x = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

# serialize

with open('output.dat', 'wb') as f:

pickle.dump(x, f)

# deserialize

with open('output.dat', 'rb') as f:

data = pickle.load(f)

print((data, type(data)))

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Note that pickle suffers from arbitrary code execution vulnerability and should not be used to process data from an untrusted source.

2. Using `json.dumps()` function

Alternatively, you can use the json module, a standard library module allowing JSON serialization and deserialization. The Json format is a secure, human-readable text serialization format, unlike pickle, which is an unsecure binary serialization format that is not human-readable.

import json

# object to be serialized

x = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

# serialize

with open('output.dat', 'w') as f:

str = json.dumps(x)

f.write(str)

# deserialize

with open('output.dat', 'r') as f:

s = f.read()

data = json.loads(s)

print((data, type(data)))

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3. Using `simplejson.dump()` function

Another option is to use the simplejson module, which exposes a similar API to the pickle module. Here’s an example of its usage:

import simplejson

# object to be serialized

x = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

# serialize

with open('output.dat', 'w') as f:

str = simplejson.dump(x, f)

# deserialize

with open('output.dat', 'r') as f:

data = simplejson.load(f)

print((data, type(data)))

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That’s all about serializing and deserializing a Python object.

Serialize and deserialize a Python object

1. Using pickle.dump() function

2. Using json.dumps() function

3. Using simplejson.dump() function

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1. Using `pickle.dump()` function

2. Using `json.dumps()` function

3. Using `simplejson.dump()` function