Extracted from Pike v7.6 release 61 at 2005-12-30.
pike.ida.liu.se
[Top]

Method encode_value()


Method encode_value

string encode_value(mixed value, object|void codec)

Description

Code a value into a string.

This function takes a value, and converts it to a string. This string can then be saved, sent to another Pike process, packed or used in any way you like. When you want your value back you simply send this string to decode_value() and it will return the value you encoded.

Almost any value can be coded, mappings, floats, arrays, circular structures etc.

To encode objects, programs and functions, a codec object must be provided.

Note

When only simple types like int, floats, strings, mappings, multisets and arrays are encoded, the produced string is very portable between pike versions. It can at least be read by any later version.

The portability when objects, programs and functions are involved depends mostly on the codec. If the byte code is encoded, i.e. when Pike programs are actually dumped in full, then the string can probably only be read by the same pike version.

See also

decode_value() , sprintf() , encode_value_canonic()