Do you know about the Pickle in Python Programming Language? Have you ever thought about what is pickling in? Let us try to understand this concept in this article & what are the necessity & rules to implement it. Also, if you need help with Python coding assignment then this article is for you.
But before we start writing about the Pickle in Python Programming Language, we need to first know about its background. And for clearing the background of the pickle Python module, we need to first concentrate on a real-life example. This real-life example will help to relate with Pickle in Python Programming Language. Then we will discuss what is pickling in Python programming language.
Let us assume one scenario.
Suppose, your friend has assigned you one task. This is not a task that is related to your college or academics. To have fun, you are playing a simple game. Your friend has given you a long pipe. And along with that, he had served some ice cubes to you. Now, the sizes of the ice cubes are bigger than the radius of the pipe. Your friend has asked you to pass those ice cubes by that pipe in any form & let them present in another open front.
Now, in this game, what will be your approach? As the cube size is big, it can’t be easily passed there. So, can you think of any way out?
So, cubes need to be passed to the other front. And you can change the state of it. So, you simply convert the ice cubes to water & then pass that water by that pipe. And at the other end, you again convert it to ice cubes. The same thing happens in the Pickle in Python Programming Language. Here, a Python object is being changed to other formats for some reason. We will talk more about these reasons when we will discuss the pickle Python module briefly.
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So, it is clear that to achieve any target changing the format of that is acceptable. Now, as the example is quite clear to you, we can jump to our discussion about what is pickling in Python programming language. Let us start our discussion.
What Is Pickling In Python Programming Language? Read Below
The pickle python module is used to do Serializing and Deserializing of any object declared in the Python programming language. Now, you might be thinking what is “Serializing and Deserializing”? Let us first clear this concept to you. When an object or simply say a program for your easy understanding, needs to be shared on the internet.
Then, that could not be shared easily. We are not talking about the process where you paste the code in any editor & attach it to mail or send it via WhatsApp. We are talking about the interior process of the Internet.
On the internet, many data or instructions are transferred to the client or the server many times. At that time, some code or instructions need to be sent. Those instructions are serialized first. That means that object or the code (for your simple understanding) will be converted to a byte stream. Byte Stream is the lowest & easiest code that can be decoded.
And then, those instructions are shared to any file, memory, or database on the internet. This process is known as Serializing. And the Deserializing is the opposite of the Serializing. Here, the byte streams that are stored in the memory will be converted to the full object or code.
Pickle in Python Programming Language helps to do that same thing. It helps to either convert the object into the byte stream & store it in the memory or file. Sometimes, it can be stored without the file also. Pickle in Python Programming Language is a module that helps to make such changes. While Deserializing, it again creates an instance of the object.
But the use of the pickle python module is very restricted in Deserializing process. It is highly done in the Serializing process. The pickle module in Python needs to be implemented properly. Otherwise, potential threats are caused by it.
We will discuss this later. After knowing what is pickling in Python programming language, we need to focus on the data types that can be pickled in Python. Also, if you are curious to know about the concept of type conversion, then you can read our article “What is Type Conversion In Python?”
What Are The Different Data Types To Use Pickle In Python Programming Language?
Now, after getting a good brief knowledge about what is pickling in Python programming language, it is time to know about different data types where the pickle Python module can be implemented. It can be said that all the possible data types, even structures can be pickled in Python programming language.
But let us make a list of all the possible data types. The list of data types is following:
- The Boolean data types that are present in the Python programming language can be pickled. This means, in the True & False Boolean value pickle python module can be implemented.
- Now, the most used data types can also be pickled in the Python programming language. Pickle in Python Programming Language can be used in Integer data type also. Along with that, long & float numbers can also be pickled there.
- All types of string can be used in the Pickle in Python Programming Language. That may be a Unicode string & normal string.
- Different types of data structures that are aligned to the Python programming language also come under the Pickle in Python Programming Language. Like, the List, Tuple, and Dictionary & Set data structures can be pickled in Programming Language.
- Other than those, any type of function can be pickled in Python programming language. That function might be a user-defined function or an in-built function; there is no issue with the type while doing Pickle in Python Programming Language. Also, the class concept can be Pickle in Python Programming Language.
What Are Tips To Handle Pickle In Python Programming Language?
Now, as we have now an ample amount of knowledge about what is pickling in Python programming language, we can easily discuss some tips about the pickle Python module. Using the Pickle in Python Programming Language is not an easy task. As this concept is highly related to the internet concept, we need to be very careful while handling the pickle Python module. While doing Deserializing, the source of the byte stream might not be an authentic one.
In those cases, some virus or harmful element can be inherited in the code that will be converted in the Deserializing process. So for that, we need to remember some tips. Let us try to find out some effective tips while programming using the Pickle Python module.
- The client or server that is involved in the pickle interaction needs to be trusted. Otherwise, some malicious data will get the right to change the code or object structure remotely. This is known as Remote Code Execution.
- While doing Pickle in Python Programming Language, an encrypted network connection is a must. Both the server and client handling party should be connected to the encrypted network. Otherwise, alternation of the data can be possible.
- If in any case, the encrypted network is not available, then the signature will be used. Before Serializing, one signature will be provided to it. And after Deserializing the signature will be verified again. If it is the same, then there is no issue.
- The file or the virtual system where the pickled elements are stored needs to be maintained every time. If there is any loophole present that needs to be sorted out immediately.
- Protected access to the data & file system review should be done before doing Pickle in Python Programming Language. If the process is done without the internet, then there is no need to have much more caution.
We should clear the security concept in our minds before moving to the implementation of the Pickle in Python Programming Language. But before moving to the implementation process, we will focus on some of the advantages of using Pickle in Python Programming Language.
What Are The Advantages Of Pickle In Python Programming Language?
After discussing what is pickling in Python programming language, you might feel motivated to jump into the implementation process of it. But, as we have discussed the tips & dangers of the Pickle in Python Programming Language, you might feel demotivated & scared about the cautions of this process. But let us again grow up your interest in this topic, when we discuss some of its important advantages of it.
Let us try to focus on the following points of advantages of Pickle in Python Programming Language:
- Pickle in Python Programming Language remembers the object or code that was earlier serialized. So, when it will again desterilized it will easily convert it. So, the reference of the article will be the same.
- The pickle module in Python programming language will share the object only one time. And the reference of that object will be shared in different places. It can do self-referencing also.
- The pickle module will transparently change the class definition of the object while Deserializing. The instances of the class will store in the same module on the internet.
How To Do Implementation Of Pickle in Python Programming Language:
Let us first try to understand the implementation process with the file. After that, we will implement the Python code for the process without using the file concept.
Method 1: With File:
Here the file concept will be used to implement the program. You should know about the files in Python programming language. All the modes to open a file or the process to close the file will be needed here. So, you should clear that concept before moving to the implementation process.
At first, the pickle module needs to be imported into the program. After that, we are going to implement two different dictionaries will be developed. We have to share some data with that dictionaries. Then we need to again declare some dictionaries that will be used as the database.
After that, we need to open a file using the file open concept. Pickle in Python Programming Language has some inbuilt functions. Here, we are going to use the dump() function to store the data in the file. The data will be stored in the byte stream manner. This file will be used again in the following steps.
The file needs to be again reopened in the program. The file will be loaded in the program & the Pickle in Python Programming Language converts the same byte stream to original content easily. It will convert all the byte streams to the object stored there.
If you want to know the methods to fix KeyError in Python then you can read it here. Now, we are going to print that data that will be converted using Deserializing. And the output data will be the same as it was provided as the input.
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Example:
import pickle # Importing Pickle Module def storeData(): C = {'key' : 'C', 'name' : 'C Program'} # Assigning Data Java = {'key' : 'Java', 'name' : 'Java Program'} # Database Creation db = {} db['C'] = C db['Java'] = Java dbfile = open('ex', 'ab') # File Opening Using Binary Mode pickle.dump(db, dbfile) # Putting Data dbfile.close() # Closing Data def loadData(): dbfile = open('ex', 'rb') # Again Opening File db = pickle.load(dbfile) # Loading Data for keys in db: print(keys, '=>', db[keys]) # Printing Data dbfile.close() # Closing File if __name__ == '__main__': storeData() loadData()
Let us try to understand the output of the above code. It will help to understand Pickle in Python Programming Language using files.
Output:
Method 2: Without File:
Here, the process is moreover same as the above-mentioned process. Here the file will not be used & a local variable will be used to store the data. Also, we need to declare some dictionaries & provide some data to that dictionaries. After providing the data, we need to again declare some dictionaries for the database purpose. Instead of declaring the file, we will store the data in some variable. And the variable will be again loaded & printed. And the same result will be available.
Example:
C = {'key' : 'C', 'name' : 'C Program'} # Assigning Data Java = {'key' : 'Java', 'name' : 'Java Program'} # Database Creation db = {} db['C'] = C db['Java'] = Java b = pickle.dumps(db) # Local Variable Storing myEntry = pickle.loads(b) # Loading The Variable print(myEntry) # Printing The Data
Let us try to understand the output of the above code. It will help to understand Pickle in Python Programming Language without using files.
Output:
Conclusion:
As we saw it is very important to understand Pickle in Python Programming Language.
We need to first clarify our concept about what is pickling in Python programming language. Then the rest of the article will become an easy one.
It is advisable to clear the basic concept of the Python programming language. And having a good knowledge of computer networks will be an extra edge to get the topic more easily. It will help us in the future.
So, hope you have liked this piece of article. Share your thoughts in the comments section and let us know if we can improve more.
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