Kotlin Serialization Guide

Introduction

The book «Kotlin Serialization Guide» (author — JetBrains team, 2021, 180 pages) is the official guide to the Kotlin Serialization library — a powerful tool for converting Kotlin objects to and from various data formats. This compact yet comprehensive edition covers all key aspects of working with serialization in modern Kotlin.

What the book is about

The guide starts with the basics: installing the kotlinx.serialization plugin, adding dependencies, and the @Serializable annotation. It then sequentially covers:

• Serialization and deserialization of simple types, collections, and nullable fields;
• Working with JSON (formatting, configuration, polymorphism, field ignoring);
• Support for ProtoBuf, CBOR, and Properties formats;
• Custom serializers and deserializers;
• Serialization of sealed classes, generic types, and recursive structures;
• Integration with Ktor and other frameworks.

Who this book is for

The publication is aimed at developers who are already familiar with the Kotlin language at a basic level. It will be useful both for beginners wanting to learn serialization from scratch and for experienced programmers looking to delve into the nuances of configuration and optimization.

What the reader will learn

• How to properly annotate classes for automatic serialization;
• How to configure JSON output (pretty print, field naming, null handling);
• How to create custom serializers for non-standard types;
• How to work with polymorphic hierarchies and sealed classes;
• How to use alternative formats (ProtoBuf, CBOR);
• How to integrate serialization into network applications on Ktor.

Strengths

The main advantage of the book is its authority: it is written by the creators of the library, so all examples and recommendations are up-to-date and verified. The material is structured logically: from simple to complex, each section is accompanied by code and explanations. The section on custom serializers deserves special mention — it provides a complete understanding of the library's internal workings. The book is small (180 pages) but covers all necessary topics without fluff.

Who it is recommended for

The guide is a must-read for anyone using Kotlin for backend development, Android applications, or multiplatform projects. It will become a desk reference for those who want to write reliable, performant, and easily maintainable serialization code.