Ktor is a powerful Kotlin framework for building web services. Serialization is a critical part of handling data in APIs, and Ktor provides flexible tools to manage it. Here's a quick guide to get started:

1. Basic Concepts

Serialization in Ktor involves converting data between formats like JSON, XML, or form-urlencoded.

  • JSON Support: Use application/json content type with ktor-client or ktor-server
  • Form URL Encoding: Ideal for simple key-value pairs with application/x-www-form-urlencoded
  • Custom Formats: Implement your own serialization logic via Serializer interface
ktor_logo

2. Setup and Usage

Add dependencies: 

implementation("io.ktor:ktor-client-content-builder:$ktor_version")
implementation("io.ktor:ktor-server-content-negotiation:$ktor_version")

Configure serialization in Application module: 

install(ContentNegotiation) {
    json()
}

3. Example Code

data class User(val name: String, val age: Int)

get("/user") {
    call.respond(HttpStatusCode.OK, User("Alice", 30))
}

4. Advanced Features

  • Custom Serializers: For complex data types
  • Streaming: Handle large payloads efficiently
  • Validation: Combine with ktor-client for request validation

For more details, check our Ktor Serialization Guide 📚

serialization_flow

5. Tips and Best Practices

  • Always validate input data before serialization
  • Use ktor-client for client-side serialization needs
  • Explore Ktor's official documentation for full API reference 📖

Let me know if you need help with specific serialization formats or use cases!