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<H1><A NAME="SECTION0051400000000000000000">
3.14 <tt class="module">pickle</tt> -- Python object serialization</A>
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<A NAME="module-pickle"></A>

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<P>
The <tt class="module">pickle</tt> module implements a fundamental, but powerful
algorithm for serializing and de-serializing a Python object
structure.  ``Pickling'' is the process whereby a Python object
hierarchy is converted into a byte stream, and ``unpickling'' is the
inverse operation, whereby a byte stream is converted back into an
object hierarchy.  Pickling (and unpickling) is alternatively known as
``serialization'', ``marshalling,''<A NAME="tex2html14"
  HREF="#foot8963"><SUP>3.2</SUP></A> or ``flattening'',
however, to avoid confusion, the terms used here are ``pickling'' and
``unpickling''.

<P>
This documentation describes both the <tt class="module">pickle</tt> module and the
<tt class="module"><a href="module-cPickle.html">cPickle</a></tt> module.

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<BR><HR><H4>Footnotes</H4>
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<DT><A NAME="foot8963">... ``marshalling,''</A><A
 href="module-pickle.html#tex2html14"><SUP>3.2</SUP></A></DT>
<DD>Don't confuse this with
the <tt class="module"><a href="module-marshal.html">marshal</a></tt> module

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<A NAME="CHILD_LINKS"><STRONG>Subsections</STRONG></a>

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<LI><A href="node63.html">3.14.1 Relationship to other Python modules</a>
<LI><A href="node64.html">3.14.2 Data stream format</a>
<LI><A href="node65.html">3.14.3 Usage</a>
<LI><A href="node66.html">3.14.4 What can be pickled and unpickled?</a>
<LI><A href="pickle-protocol.html">3.14.5 The pickle protocol</a>
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<LI><A href="pickle-inst.html">3.14.5.1 Pickling and unpickling normal class
    instances</a>
<LI><A href="node69.html">3.14.5.2 Pickling and unpickling extension types</a>
<LI><A href="node70.html">3.14.5.3 Pickling and unpickling external objects</a>
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<LI><A href="pickle-sub.html">3.14.6 Subclassing Unpicklers</a>
<LI><A href="pickle-example.html">3.14.7 Example</a>
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<span class="release-info">Release 2.4.2, documentation updated on 28 September 2005.</span>
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