# 22. Virtuoso Functions Guide - serialize

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Functions Index

## serialize

Serializes a value of its argument following the rules of the host RDBMS.
string serialize ([obj any]);
Description

The serialize() function converts an object to a string as follows:

- An empty sequence is converted to an empty string.

- A nonempty node-set is converted to a string by serialization of its first node.

- A non-attribute XML entity is serialized as if it is serialized by http() function. In other words, the result is a plain text of XML syntax. For an attribute XML entity, the value of attribute is returned.

- Values of other types are converted into strings as cast(... as varchar) do this in Virtuoso/PL, exactly.

If the argument is omitted, context node is converted instead as if it is a node-set of one element.

Parameters
obj – Value to be converted into the string
Return Types

String

Errors
Examples

    string(//title)

See Also

format_number()

serialize()

concat()