What is the name of the process that converts object data into a linear format?

Serialization is the process that converts object data into a linear format, enabling it to be easily stored or transmitted. This transformation allows complex data structures, like objects in programming languages, to be represented as a sequence of bytes, which can then be reconstructed later in their original form through a process called deserialization. Serialization is widely used in scenarios such as saving program state, sending data over a network, or persisting data in databases.

In this context, options related to insecure methods describe vulnerabilities in the serialization and deserialization processes but do not define the process itself. Insecure serialization and deserialization refer to risks associated with improperly handling serialized data, which can lead to security issues, such as code execution or data manipulation, but they do not represent the fundamental process of converting object data into a linear format.