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[//]: # (title: Get started with Kotlin serialization)

[Serialization](serialization.md) converts objects into a format that can be stored or transmitted and later reconstructed.

Kotlin serialization supports multiple formats.
This tutorial shows you how to add the necessary plugins and dependencies for Kotlin serialization and how to serialize and deserialize objects in JSON format.

## Add plugins and dependencies for Kotlin serialization to your project

To include the `kotlinx.serialization` library in your project, add the corresponding plugin and dependency configuration based on your build tool:

<tabs>
<tab id="kotlin" title="Gradle Kotlin">

```kotlin
// build.gradle.kts
plugins {
kotlin("plugin.serialization") version "%kotlinVersion%"
}

dependencies {
implementation("org.jetbrains.kotlinx:kotlinx-serialization-json:%serializationVersion%")
}
```

</tab>
<tab id="groovy" title="Gradle Groovy">

```groovy
// build.gradle
plugins {
id 'org.jetbrains.kotlin.plugin.serialization' version '%kotlinVersion%'
}

dependencies {
implementation 'org.jetbrains.kotlinx:kotlinx-serialization-json:%serializationVersion%'
}
```

</tab>
<tab id="maven" title="Maven">

```xml
<!-- pom.xml -->
<properties>
<kotlin.version>%kotlinVersion%</kotlin.version>
<serialization.version>%serializationVersion%</serialization.version>
</properties>

<build>
<plugins>
<plugin>
<groupId>org.jetbrains.kotlin</groupId>
<artifactId>kotlin-maven-plugin</artifactId>
<version>${kotlin.version}</version>
<executions>
<execution>
<id>compile</id>
<phase>compile</phase>
<goals>
<goal>compile</goal>
</goals>
</execution>
</executions>
<configuration>
<compilerPlugins>
<plugin>kotlinx-serialization</plugin>
</compilerPlugins>
</configuration>
<dependencies>
<dependency>
<groupId>org.jetbrains.kotlin</groupId>
<artifactId>kotlin-maven-serialization</artifactId>
<version>${kotlin.version}</version>
</dependency>
</dependencies>
</plugin>
</plugins>
</build>

<dependencies>
<dependency>
<groupId>org.jetbrains.kotlinx</groupId>
<artifactId>kotlinx-serialization-json</artifactId>
<version>${serialization.version}</version>
</dependency>
</dependencies>
```

</tab>
</tabs>

> To set up the Kotlin compiler plugin for Bazel, see the example provided in the [rules_kotlin repository](https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_kotlin/tree/master/examples/plugin/src/serialization).
>
{style="tip"}

### Add the Kotlin serialization library to a multiplatform project

To use Kotlin serialization for JSON in multiplatform projects, add the JSON serialization library dependency to your common source set:

```kotlin
commonMain {
dependencies {
implementation("org.jetbrains.kotlinx:kotlinx-serialization-json:%serializationVersion%")
}
}
```

This dependency automatically includes the core serialization library as well.

### Configure R8 for Kotlin serialization in Android projects {initial-collapse-state="collapsed" collapsible="true"}

The Kotlin serialization library includes default [ProGuard rules](https://github.com/Kotlin/kotlinx.serialization/blob/master/rules/common.pro) to keep serializers for all serializable classes after shrinking.
These rules don't apply to classes with named companion objects.

To retain serializers for classes with named companion objects, add rules based on the [compatibility mode](https://r8.googlesource.com/r8/+/refs/heads/master/compatibility-faq.md) you use to your `proguard-rules.pro` file:

<tabs>
<tab id="compatibility" title="R8 compatibility mode">

```bash
# Serializer for classes with named companion objects are retrieved using getDeclaredClasses
# If you have any such classes, replace the examples below with your own
-keepattributes InnerClasses # Required for getDeclaredClasses

-if @kotlinx.serialization.Serializable class
com.example.myapplication.HasNamedCompanion, # <-- List serializable classes with named companions
com.example.myapplication.HasNamedCompanion2
{
static **$* *;
}
-keepnames class <1>$$serializer { # Using -keepnames is enough; class is kept when serializer() is kept
static <1>$$serializer INSTANCE;
}
```

</tab>

<tab id="full" title="R8 full mode">

```bash
# Serializer for classes with named companion objects are retrieved using getDeclaredClasses
# If you have any such classes, replace the examples below with your own
-keepattributes InnerClasses # Required for getDeclaredClasses

-if @kotlinx.serialization.Serializable class
com.example.myapplication.HasNamedCompanion, # <-- List serializable classes with named companions
com.example.myapplication.HasNamedCompanion2
{
static **$* *;
}
-keepnames class <1>$$serializer { # Using -keepnames is enough; class is kept when serializer() is kept
static <1>$$serializer INSTANCE;
}

# Keep both serializer and serializable classes to save the attribute InnerClasses
-keepclasseswithmembers, allowshrinking, allowobfuscation, allowaccessmodification class
com.example.myapplication.HasNamedCompanion, # <-- List serializable classes with named companions
com.example.myapplication.HasNamedCompanion2
{
*;
}
```

</tab>
</tabs>

> You can exclude serializable classes that are never serialized at runtime by using custom ProGuard rules with narrower [class specifications](https://www.guardsquare.com/manual/configuration/usage).
>
{style="tip"}

## Serialize objects to JSON

In Kotlin, you can serialize objects to JSON using the `kotlinx.serialization` library.

To make a class serializable, you need to mark it with the [`@Serializable`](https://kotlinlang.org/api/kotlinx.serialization/kotlinx-serialization-core/kotlinx.serialization/-serializable/) annotation.
This annotation instructs the compiler to generate the code required for serializing and deserializing instances of the class.
For more information, see [The @Serialization annotation](serialization-customization-options.md#the-serializable-annotation).

Let's look at an example:

1. Import declarations from the necessary serialization libraries:

```kotlin
import kotlinx.serialization.*
import kotlinx.serialization.json.*
```

2. Make a class serializable by annotating it with `@Serializable`:

```kotlin
@Serializable
data class Data(val a: Int, val b: String)
```

> The `@Serializable` annotation enables default serialization of all properties with backing fields.
> You can customize serialization behavior with property-level annotations, optional properties, and more.
>
> For more information, see [Serialize classes](serialization-customization-options.md).
>
{style="note"}

3. Use the [`Json.encodeToString()`](https://kotlinlang.org/api/kotlinx.serialization/kotlinx-serialization-json/kotlinx.serialization.json/-json/encode-to-string.html) function to serialize an instance of this class:

```kotlin
// Imports declarations from the serialization and JSON handling libraries
import kotlinx.serialization.*
import kotlinx.serialization.json.*

// Marks the Data class as serializable
@Serializable
data class Data(val a: Int, val b: String)

fun main() {
// Serializes an instance of the Data class into a JSON string
val json = Json.encodeToString(Data(42, "str"))
println(json)
// {"a":42,"b":"str"}
}
```
{kotlin-runnable="true"}

As a result, you get a string containing the state of this object in JSON format: `{"a":42,"b":"str"}`

> You can also serialize a collection of objects in a single call:
>
> ```kotlin
> val dataList = listOf(Data(42, "str"), Data(12, "test"))
> val jsonList = Json.encodeToString(dataList)
> ```
>
{style="tip"}

## Deserialize objects from JSON

Deserialization converts a JSON string back into an object.

To deserialize an object from JSON in Kotlin:

1. Import declarations from the necessary serialization libraries:

```kotlin
import kotlinx.serialization.*
import kotlinx.serialization.json.*
```

2. Make a class serializable by annotating it with `@Serializable`:

```kotlin
@Serializable
data class Data(val a: Int, val b: String)
```

3. Use the [`Json.decodeFromString()`](https://kotlinlang.org/api/kotlinx.serialization/kotlinx-serialization-json/kotlinx.serialization.json/-json/decode-from-string.html) function to deserialize an object from JSON:

```kotlin
// Imports declarations from the serialization and JSON handling libraries
import kotlinx.serialization.*
import kotlinx.serialization.json.*

// Marks the Data class as serializable
@Serializable
data class Data(val a: Int, val b: String)

fun main() {
// Deserializes a JSON string into an instance of the Data class
val obj = Json.decodeFromString<Data>("""{"a":42, "b": "str"}""")
println(obj)
// Data(a=42, b=str)
}
```
{kotlin-runnable="true"}

Congratulations! You have successfully serialized an object to JSON and deserialized it back into an object in Kotlin!

## What's next

* Learn how to serialize standard types, including built-in types like numbers and strings, in [Serialize built-in types](serialization-serialize-builtin-types.md).

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By "standard" do you mean basic types?

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hmm 🤔 yea - but I think we can remove it as a whole to make it more concise:

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Collections are not built-in or basic types, they belong to Kotlin standard library. Hence the name "standard types".

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Perhaps "standard library types" would work? Just "standard types" isn't a term we've been using in our docs so far and the relationship to the standard library isn't obvious.

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we could be explicit:

Learn how to serialize built-in types, including basic types such as primitives and strings, as well as certain standard library classes, in Serialize built-in types.

After discussing further with @sarahhaggarty I suggest let's go with the more concise one I suggested above:

Learn how to serialize built-in types like numbers and strings, in Serialize built-in types.

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What about "Learn how to serialize basic types such as primitives and strings, as well as certain standard library classes, in Serialize built-in types."?

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that also sounds good 👍

* Discover how to customize class serialization and adjust the default behavior of the `@Serializable` annotation in the [Serialize classes](serialization-customization-options.md) section.
* Dive deeper into handling JSON data and configuring JSON serialization in the [JSON serialization overview](configure-json-serialization.md).