Boost Serialization of vector

Question

Does serializing a binary sequence stored in vector cost much? For example if I am using binary archive. Will the boost::serialization library put characters to differentiate char elements of vector and make the output larger?

Answer 1

Measure it!

The sort answers:

• No it doesn't cost much. Profile it (and see whether it fits your application)
• No, vector elements will not be differentiated for vectors of POD types.
  _{(Things change when you serialize vectors containing pointers to polymorphic classes. This is obvious, since it couldn't be done more efficiently unless you have extra knowledge about the particular dataset)}

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The storage cost:

Longer answers:

• Boost C++ Serialization overhead (comparative storage efficiency of different archives, with and without compression)

• Boost Serialization Binary Archive giving incorrect output (on why some types take more than the potential bare minimum, e.g. on 64bit systems)

• Tune things

  • boost::archive::no_header

The runtime cost:

• how to do performance test using the boost library for a custom library

• Tune things

  • boost::archive::no_codecvt