how to convert an object to a string, and vice-versa.
We can convert object to string through serialize() function and return string to object through unserialize() function.
Note:-(i) When serializing an object, PHP only stores the object’s current state, i.e. its property values. It does not serialize its methods.
(ii) When serializing an object, value store in byte-stream format.
Which situation we use serialization of the object:-
(i) Passing objects via fields in web forms.
(ii) Passing objects in URL query strings.
(iii) Storing object data in a text file, or in a single database field.
Example:-
In this eg. we have 2 files, in the first file we serialize the object of class student and in display.php we unserialize of the string variable which is created in student.php
(i) student.php
<?php class student { public $stu_name = 'John'; function display_name() { return $this -> stu_name; } } $stu_obj = new student; $stu = serialize($stu_obj); ?>
(ii) display.php
<?php include('student.php'); $stu_info = unserialize($stu); echo $stu_info -> display_name(); ?>