7. Serialization and Deserialization for backend engineers TL;DR: Serialization and deserialization are essential processes for converting data to and from a common format, enabling different systems and programming languages to communicate and understand information during transmission. The Gist: What: Serialization and Deserialization in Client-Server Communication Core Concept: The fundamental problem addressed is how diverse computing systems (e.g., a JavaScript client and a Rust server) can exchange and understand data, given their distinct internal data types and language structures. This is solved by agreeing upon a common, language-agnostic data format for transmission over a network. How it works: Serialization: The sending machine (client or server) converts its internal, language-specific data structure (e.g., a JavaScript object) into a standardized, common format (e.g., JSON). Transmission: This standardized data is then sent across the network, typically via protocols , Deserialization: The receiving machine (server or client) takes the common format data and converts it back into its own native, usable data structure (e.g., a Rust struct). 20:689eacec3b15696ee57f8c30]] This process ensures that data remains understandable and processable by both ends, regardless of their underlying technologies. Key Learnings/Insights: Purpose: To achieve language and domain agnosticism for data Common Standards: Text-based: JSON is the most popular standard for HTTP/REST API communication due to its human readability. 4279:689eacec3b15696ee57f8c30]], Other text-based formats include YAML and XML. Binary: Protobuf is a popular binary format, often used for performance-critical scenarios. JSON Structure: Starts and ends with curly braces {} . Keys must be strings enclosed in double quotes. Values can be strings, numbers, booleans, arrays, or nested objects. Backend Engineer's Focus: While network communication , Key Topics Covered: Client-Server Communication HTTP/REST APIs OSI Model (brief overview) Serialization Standards JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) JSON Structure and Data Types :689eacec3b15696ee57f8c30]] Real-world Demo of JSON in HTTP Request/Response Mental Model for Data Transmission