What does serialise mean?
To serialise is to turn something into an ordered sequence or a structured representation. The word is especially common in computing, where data is serialised before being stored or transmitted and deserialised when it is needed again. It can also mean arranging events, tasks, or information in a deliberate order, and in publishing it refers to presenting a work in successive instalments. The term conveys systematic transformation rather than merely putting things into an ordinary list: the result follows an agreed order or encoded format. Although “serialise” is the standard British spelling, “serialize” is used in American English. The related noun “serialisation” denotes either the process itself or a work published in instalments.
verbTo convert something into a sequence or arrange it in a systematic order. In computing, it means to encode data in a form that can be stored, transmitted, or processed.
- To convert or arrange something in sequential form.
- To encode data so that it can be stored, transmitted, or processed in a structured sequence.
- To publish or release a story, drama, or other work in separate instalments.
"The application serialises the user's preferences before sending them to the server."
"She serialised the investigation into a series of numbered documents."
"The novel was serialised in a weekly magazine before appearing in book form."
To serialise is to turn a whole into an ordered sequence—turning a complex object into something a machine can read.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does serialise come from?
The word belongs to the Latin root series, meaning “row” or “sequence,” which developed from serere, “to join” or “to bind.” The English adjective serial and the verb “serialise” were formed from this root during the 19th century. Modern forms in computing continue the older sense of reducing information to an ordered sequence.
Related word forms
How serialise is actually used
The spelling “serialise” is standard in British English; “serialize” is standard in American English. In computing, “serialise” often means converting an object or data structure into a byte sequence, whereas “deserialise” means converting it back.
Easily confused with serialise
In British English, “serialise” is the standard spelling, while “serialize” is the usual spelling in American English.