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How to deserialize an object using XmlSerializer

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When you deserialize an object, the transport format determines whether you will create a stream or file object. After the transport format is determined, you can call the Serialize or Deserialize methods, as required.

To deserialize an object

  1. Construct a XmlSerializer using the type of the object to deserialize.

  2. Call the Deserialize method to produce a replica of the object. When deserializing, you must cast the returned object to the type of the original, as shown in the following example, which deserializes the object from a file (although it could also be deserialized from a stream).

    ' Construct an instance of the XmlSerializer with the type
' of object that is being deserialized.
Dim mySerializer As New XmlSerializer(GetType(MySerializableClass))
' To read the file, create a FileStream.
Using myFileStream As New FileStream("myFileName.xml", FileMode.Open)
    ' Call the Deserialize method and cast to the object type.
    Dim myObject = CType( _
         mySerializer.Deserialize(myFileStream), MySerializableClass)
 End Using

    // Construct an instance of the XmlSerializer with the type
// of object that is being deserialized.
var mySerializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(MySerializableClass));
// To read the file, create a FileStream.
using var myFileStream = new FileStream("myFileName.xml", FileMode.Open);
// Call the Deserialize method and cast to the object type.
var myObject = (MySerializableClass)mySerializer.Deserialize(myFileStream);

See also