How to deserialize an object using XmlSerializer

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.

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.
   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);
   

• Introducing XML Serialization
• How to: Serialize an Object