Data Contract Serialization and De-Serialization - WCF Service Tutorial

Serialization is the process of converting an object to transferable data format. By default WCF uses DataContractSerializer. And vice-versa process is called De-Serialization.
   

public class Product     {         public int  ProductID         {             get;set;         }         public string ProductName         {             get;set;         }         public string ProductSeller         {             get;set;         }         public decimal ProductCost         {             get;set;         }     }

Browse the service and open WSDL file.

Notice a namespace containing datacontract
Open the URL highlighted below.

You may notice the details that I added in Product class.

After adding Serializable attribute:

 [Serializable]

    public class Product

    { }

Now you may notice the change in xml file. Serializable attribute serialize all private properties.

Now if you want a control over serialization. Means you don't want all data to send to client only few of the  you want to exchange.

Use DataContract and DataMember attribute

[DataContract]     public class Product     {         [DataMember]         public int  ProductID         {             get;set;         }         [DataMember]         public string ProductName         {             get;set;         }         public string ProductSeller         {             get;set;         }         public decimal ProductCost         {             get;set;         }     }

In below code, i have added DataMemeber attribute with ProductID and ProductName

Let's see the WSDL file.

You may notice only ProductID and ProductName is showing below why because I have used DataMember attribute with these two.

Summary:

• If we use Serialize attribute then we will not have any control over fields. All fields will be serialize.

• If we use DataContract attribute then we can control the fields by adding DataMember attribute if we want to serialize else with no attribute.

Related blogs to WCF Service-

• Introduction to WCF 
• ABC of WCF 
• Basics of WCF Architecture 
• WCF vs Web Service 
• What is XML serialization? 
• WCF Binding 
• Create first WCF application 
• Fault Contract in 
• WCF Data Contract vs Message Contract 
• Message Contract 
• Data Contract Serialization and De-Serialization 
• Data Contract in WCF 
• Operation Contract in WCF 
• Service Contract in WCF 
• How to host a WCF service in IIS? 
• WAS Hosting in WCF 
• Self Hosting in WCF 
• How to create WCF RESTful Service.