Data serialization is the process of converting structured data into a format that can be easily shared, stored, or transmitted while preserving its original structure. This technique is essential for enabling data exchange between different systems or applications, as it allows complex objects to be represented as simple strings or byte sequences. Common serialization formats include JSON and XML, which are human-readable, as well as binary formats that are more compact. By serializing data, developers can save the state of objects, facilitating data persistence and communication across various platforms and programming languages ¹².