Serialization

In computer science, serialization is when data is translated to a format that can be stored or transmitted and then reconstructed later. 

In MetaArchive, this often happens when preparing content for ingest.  Examples include:

1. Bagging a group of files using tools like DART or Bagger, or
2. Zipping a group of files using a file archiver like WinZip or 7-Zip.

Serialization can be useful when preparing content for ingest into the LOCKSS network since a single checksum for a group of bagged/zipped files can be created and checked thereby reducing the servers' work during polling and voting.