DataContractSerializer vs XmlSerializer: Pros and Cons of each serializer

Solution 1:

Dan Rigsby has the ultimate post on this - go read it!

XmlSerializer vs. DataContractSerializer (web archive)

He says all there is to say, and in a very convincing way.

In short:

XmlSerializer:

• has been around for a long time
• is "opt-out"; everything public gets serialized, unless you tell it not to ([XmlIgnore])

DataContractSerializer is:

• the new kid in town
• optimized for speed (about 10% faster than XmlSerializer, typically)
• "opt-in" - only stuff you specifically mark as [DataMember] will be serialized
• but anything marked with [DataMember] will be serialized - whether it's public or private
• doesn't support XML attributes (for speed reasons)