XML Serialization Control in C#

When working with System.Xml.Serialization.XmlSerializer, you can control how POCO properties are serialized using naming conventions and attributes.

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1. The Specified Suffix

• Pattern: <PropertyName>Specified
• Type: bool
• Effect: Controls whether <PropertyName> is serialized at all.

Example

public int Priority { get; set; }
public bool PrioritySpecified { get; set; }

• If PrioritySpecified = false, the <Priority> element is omitted.

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2. The ShouldSerialize<PropertyName> Method

• Pattern: public bool ShouldSerialize<PropertyName>()
• Effect: Alternative to *Specified property. If the method returns false, the property is not serialized.

Example

public int Priority { get; set; }
public bool ShouldSerializePriority() => Priority > 0;

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3. The Reset<PropertyName> Method

• Pattern: public void Reset<PropertyName>()
• Effect: Used with XmlSerializer and some designers. Indicates how to reset a property to its default.

(Not directly about omitting XML, but sometimes paired with ShouldSerialize<PropertyName>()).

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4. Attributes That Change Serialization

Besides naming conventions, attributes give fine-grained control:

• [XmlIgnore] → Prevents serialization of a property or field.
• [XmlAttribute] → Serializes as an attribute instead of an element.
• [XmlElement(IsNullable = true)] → Controls xsi:nil output.
• [DefaultValue(...)] (from System.ComponentModel) → If property equals default, serializer may skip it.

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✅ Summary of Special Naming Conventions

1. *Specified boolean property → Controls element inclusion.
2. ShouldSerialize<PropertyName>() method → Controls serialization via code logic.
3. Reset<PropertyName>() method → Used for resetting to defaults.

Attributes provide additional control beyond these conventions.