How Inheritance Affects Serialization in java?

Question

How Inheritance Affects Serialization in java with an example?

Vulpes · Accepted Answer

The basic rule is that if a super-class is serializable, then its sub-classes are automatically serializable. Here's an example:
import java.io.*;
class Animal implements Serializable  {   public String name;   public String type;   public int age;
public Animal(String name, String type, int age)   {      this.name = name;      this.type = type;      this.age = age;   }
public String toString()    {      return "Name = " + name + ", Type = " + type + ", Age = " +
age;   } }
public class Dog extends Animal // no need to implement Serializable again {   public String breed;
public Dog(String name, int age, String breed)   {      super(name, "Dog", age);      this.breed = breed;   }
public String toString()    {      return super.toString() + " ,Breed = " + breed;   }     public static void main(String[] args)    {     String filename = "dog.ser";     Dog d = new Dog("Rover", 4, "Spaniel");       // serialize the object to file     FileOutputStream fos = null;     ObjectOutputStream out = null;     try      {        fos = new FileOutputStream(filename);        out = new ObjectOutputStream(fos);        out.writeObject(d);        out.close();     }      catch (Exception ex)      {       ex.printStackTrace();     }
// deserialize the object from file
FileInputStream fis = null;     ObjectInputStream in = null;     try      {        fis = new FileInputStream(filename);        in = new ObjectInputStream(fis);        d = (Dog)in.readObject();        in.close();     }      catch (Exception ex)      {        ex.printStackTrace();     }          System.out.println(d);        } }    The output is:
Name = Rover, Type = Dog, Age = 4 ,Breed = Spaniel

Abhijeet Singh · Answer

Thank you sir.. :)