---
title: serialize
framework: kernel
role: pseudoSymbol
path: kernel/osobject/1941155-serialize
---

# serialize

Overridden by subclasses to archive the receiver into the provided OSSerialize object.

## Declaration

```occ
virtual bool serialize(
 OSSerialize *serializer) const; 
```

## Parameters

- `serializer`: The OSSerialize object.

## Return Value

Return Value true if serialization succeeds, false if not.

## Overview

Overview OSObject's implementation writes a string indicating that the class of the object receiving the function call is not serializable. Subclasses that can meaningfully encode themselves in I/O Kit-style property list XML can override this function to do so. See OSSerialize for more information.

## See Also

### Miscellaneous

- [free](kernel/osobject/1941146-free.md)
- [getRetainCount](kernel/osobject/1941147-getretaincount.md)
- [init](kernel/osobject/1941148-init.md)
- [operator delete](kernel/osobject/1941149-operator_delete.md)
- [operator new](kernel/osobject/1941150-operator_new.md)
- [release()](kernel/osobject/1941151-release.md)
- [release(int)](kernel/osobject/1941153-release.md)
- [retain](kernel/osobject/1941154-retain.md)
- [taggedRelease(const void *)](kernel/osobject/1941156-taggedrelease.md)
- [taggedRelease(const void *, const int)](kernel/osobject/1941157-taggedrelease.md)
- [taggedRetain](kernel/osobject/1941158-taggedretain.md)