Title :Serializing Objects in PHP
Full Article: http://www.phphacks.com/content/view/34/33/

Recommended to : Beginner PHPer and PHPer just starting OO

Introduction: Object serialization is a technique to turn an object's properties and methods into a string. It is then stored in flatfile or database. Unserialize them will turn the object into the original state and can be processed in PHP. This article from phphacks.com shows how to build a class that can self serialize and unserialize.

Abstract:
To serialize a object, use serialize($object). To unserialize, use unserialize($object). The writer demonstrate the usage by making a simple class that simply store data into file. Then, adding a new function in the original class that allow serialization the object itself by this code serialize($this). The serialized object is then stored into a file. Restoration of the file needs another function. The function called fetch() fetches the file and unserialize it. "$newObj = $objSaver-> fetch();" will create an object that's same as the $objSaver.

Facts from Conclusion:

• Serialization turns a object into string for storage.
• Unserialization restores a string into an object for PHP script to use.
• Self-serializing and unserializing objects can be a root class for all classes that need to serialized.

Editor Comment:

Serialize is a practice quite popular around the OO PHPers. The popular CMS e107 uses Serialized object to store settings in the database.