What does the term 'serialize' refer to in programming?

The term 'serialize' in programming refers to the conversion of an object into a format that can be easily stored or transmitted. This process is crucial when you want to save an object's state to a file, send it across a network, or store it in a database. Serialization transforms the object's data and structure into a byte stream, which can then be reconstructed later (deserialized) into the original object. Formats commonly used for serialization include JSON, XML, and binary formats, allowing for data interchange between different programming environments or saving state for applications.

In this context, other options do not accurately describe serialization. Encrypting data pertains to security and data protection, while creating complex data types involves defining new types or classes rather than converting them to a storable format. Lastly, the execution of functions in asynchronous programming concerns applying functions without blocking the main execution thread, which is unrelated to the concept of serialization.