How the transient Keyword Impacts Java Serialization
The transient keyword in Java is used to mark fields in a class that should not be serialized. Serialization is the process of converting an object into a byte stream, so it can be saved to a file, sent over a network, etc. When an object is serialized, all of its fields are usually saved. However, fields marked with transient are ignored during this process. Why Use the transient Keyword? There are several reasons why you might want to exclude certain fields from being serialized: Temporary or Computed Values : Some fields are temporary or calculated on the fly. These fields don’t need to be persisted or restored when deserializing the object. Sensitive Information : Fields like passwords, API keys, or security tokens contain sensitive data that should not be saved or shared. Non-Serializable Fields : Some objects, such as file streams, database connections, or thread objects, cannot be serialized. By marking these fields as transient , you avoid ...