# OSSerialization A container for one or more objects, serialized in a binary data format that is suitable for messaging. ``` class OSSerialization; ``` ## Overview OSSerialization provides methods to serialize an object to binary data suitable for messaging. Only certain DriverKit classes may be serialized: OSData, OSString, OSNumber, OSBoolean, OSArray, OSDictionary. OSSerialization provides no concurrency protection; it’s up to the usage context to provide any protection necessary. ## Topics ### Creating a Serialization Object [`OSSerializationPtrOSCreateSerializationFromBytes(const void *bytes, size_t length, OSSerializationFreeBufferHandler freeBuffer);`](/documentation/DriverKit/OSCreateSerializationFromBytes) [`OSSerializationPtrOSCreateSerializationFromObject(OSObjectPtr obj);`](/documentation/DriverKit/OSCreateSerializationFromObject) [`virtual void free();`](/documentation/DriverKit/OSSerialization/free) [`typedef void (^)(const void *, unsigned long) OSSerializationFreeBufferHandler;`](/documentation/DriverKit/OSSerializationFreeBufferHandler) [`typedef OSSerialization * OSSerializationPtr;`](/documentation/DriverKit/OSSerializationPtr) ### Getting the Serialized Content [`OSObjectPtr copyObject();`](/documentation/DriverKit/OSSerialization/copyObject) Obtain the result of the deserialization performed by createFromBytes(). [`OSObjectPtrOSCreateObjectFromSerialization(OSSerializationPtr serial);`](/documentation/DriverKit/OSCreateObjectFromSerialization) [`const void *OSSerializationGetBytes(OSSerializationPtr serial, size_t *length);`](/documentation/DriverKit/OSSerializationGetBytes) [`const void * finalizeBuffer(size_t *length);`](/documentation/DriverKit/OSSerialization/finalizeBuffer) Obtain the result of the serialization performed by createFromObject(). ### Type Methods [`static void freeBuffer(const void *buffer, size_t length);`](/documentation/DriverKit/OSSerialization/freeBuffer) ### Type Methods [`static OSSerializationPtr createFromBytes(const void *bytes, size_t length, OSSerializationFreeBufferHandler freeBuffer, OSSerializationPortCopyInHandler copyInHandler);`](/documentation/DriverKit/OSSerialization/createFromBytes-8jjh8) [`static OSSerializationPtr createFromBytes(const void *bytes, size_t length, OSSerializationFreeBufferHandler freeBuffer);`](/documentation/DriverKit/OSSerialization/createFromBytes-9lb79) [`static OSSerializationPtr createFromObject(OSObjectPtr const object);`](/documentation/DriverKit/OSSerialization/createFromObject-2st9w) [`static OSSerializationPtr createFromObject(OSObjectPtr const object, OSSerializationPortCopyOutHandler copyOutHandler);`](/documentation/DriverKit/OSSerialization/createFromObject-4rdec) ## Relationships ### Inherits From [`OSContainer`](/documentation/DriverKit/OSContainer) --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)