Before beginning to serialize data, it is important to identify or decide how the

dataneeds to be structured during data serialization - flat or nested.

datashould to be structured during data serialization - flat or nested.

The differences in the two styles are shown in the below examples.

Flat style:

For more reading on the two styles, please see the discussion on

`Python mailing list<https://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-list/2010-October/590762.html>`__,

`IETF mailing list<https://www.ietf.org/mail-archive/web/json/current/msg03739.html>`__ and

`here<https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/350623/flat-or-nested-json-for-hierarchal-data>`__.

`in stackexchange<https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/350623/flat-or-nested-json-for-hierarchal-data>`__.

Serializing Text

repr

The repr method in Python takes a single object parameter and returns a printable representation of the input

The repr method in Python takes a single object parameter and returns a printable representation of the input:

..code-block::python

The literal_eval method safely parses and evaluates an expression for a Python datatype.

Supported data types are: strings, numbers, tuples, lists, dicts, booleans and None.

Supported data types are: strings, numbers, tuples, lists, dicts, booleans, and None.

..code-block::python

The module's contents, functions and examples can be found

`here<https://docs.python.org/3/library/csv.html>`__.

The module's contents, functions, and examples can be found

`in the Python documentation<https://docs.python.org/3/library/csv.html>`__.

YAML (nested data)

More documentation on using the `xml.dom` and `xml.sax` packages can be found

`here<https://docs.python.org/3/library/xml.html>`__.

`in the Python XML library documentation<https://docs.python.org/3/library/xml.html>`__.

Binary

Numpy Array (flat data)

NumPy Array (flat data)

Python'sNumpy array can be used to serialize and deserialize data to and from byte representation.

Python'sNumPy array can be used to serialize and deserialize data to and from byte representation.

Example:

..code-block::python