Serialization is a core component in RPC frameworks, directly affecting performance and efficiency. Common serialization protocols have their own characteristics:
1. Protobuf (Protocol Buffers)
- Features: Developed by Google, binary format, efficient and compact
- Advantages:
- Fast serialization/deserialization
- Small data size, high transmission efficiency
- Supports multiple languages (Java, Python, Go, C++, etc.)
- Good backward compatibility
- Clearly defined data structures (.proto files)
- Disadvantages:
- Poor readability, requires .proto files
- Does not support dynamic types
- Applicable Scenarios: Microservice communication with high performance requirements
2. Thrift
- Features: Developed by Facebook, supports multiple protocols and transport methods
- Advantages:
- Supports multiple serialization formats (Binary, JSON, Compact)
- Supports multiple transport protocols (TCP, HTTP, Memory)
- Powerful code generation capabilities
- Supports both asynchronous and synchronous calls
- Disadvantages:
- Steep learning curve
- Relatively less documentation
- Applicable Scenarios: Complex cross-language, multi-protocol scenarios
3. JSON
- Features: Text format, easy to read and write
- Advantages:
- Human-readable, easy to debug
- Strong universality, supported by all languages
- Flexible, supports dynamic types
- Native browser support
- Disadvantages:
- Large data size, low transmission efficiency
- Slow serialization/deserialization
- Poor type safety
- Applicable Scenarios: External APIs, Web applications
4. Avro
- Features: Apache project, supports schema evolution
- Advantages:
- Supports dynamic schemas, no code generation needed
- Strong schema evolution capabilities
- High compression rate
- Suitable for big data scenarios
- Disadvantages:
- High learning cost
- Relatively niche
- Applicable Scenarios: Big data processing, log collection
5. MessagePack
- Features: Binary JSON, efficient and compact
- Advantages:
- Smaller and faster than JSON
- Maintains JSON's data types
- Supports multiple languages
- Disadvantages:
- Less readable than JSON
- Relatively small ecosystem
- Applicable Scenarios: Scenarios requiring JSON compatibility but higher performance
6. Hessian
- Features: Binary serialization, dynamic types
- Advantages:
- Fast serialization
- Supports dynamic types
- Cross-language support
- Disadvantages:
- Relatively large data size
- Low community activity
- Applicable Scenarios: RPC calls in Java ecosystem
Performance Comparison (Approximate Ranking):
- Serialization Speed: Protobuf > Hessian > Thrift > MessagePack > Avro > JSON
- Data Size: Protobuf > MessagePack > Thrift > Hessian > Avro > JSON
- Readability: JSON > Avro > MessagePack > Thrift > Protobuf > Hessian
Selection Recommendations:
- High-performance Internal Services: Protobuf, Thrift
- External APIs: JSON
- Big Data Scenarios: Avro
- Need JSON Compatibility: MessagePack
- Java Ecosystem: Hessian