What is the difference between Serializable and Parcelable in Android and when would you use each?

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Answered by suresh

Difference between Serializable and Parcelable in Android

Difference between Serializable and Parcelable in Android

In Android, Serializable and Parcelable are two ways to enable objects to be passed between activities or sent over the network. The main difference between Serializable and Parcelable is the performance.

Serializable:

  • Serializable is a Java interface that is simple to implement by marking a class as serializable.
  • Serializable uses reflection to read and write data, which can be slower and less optimized.
  • Serializable is a good option for simple data structures and when performance is not critical.

Parcelable:

  • Parcelable is an Android-specific interface that requires more code to implement compared to Serializable.
  • Parcelable is faster and more efficient as it works at a lower level without using reflection.
  • Parcelable is recommended for performance-critical scenarios and when dealing with large data structures.

When to Use Each:

Use Serializable when simplicity and ease of use are important, and performance is not a critical factor. Use Parcelable when performance is a priority, especially for large or complex data structures.

Answer for Question: What is the difference between Serializable and Parcelable in Android and when would you use each?