Serialization

Serializing is useful for storing or passing PHP values around without losing their type and structure.

• The serialize() function converts any PHP data (except the resource type) into a string which can be stored.

• The unserialize() fuction can be used on the string and the data's value, type, and structure can all be retrieved. This is useful for complicated data types such as arrays and objects.

• An object's properties and methods are both stored using the serialize() function.
  

• There is a page on serialization here.