> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://chiragjain.gitbook.io/neetcode/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://chiragjain.gitbook.io/neetcode/297-serialize-and-deserialize-binary-tree.md).

# 297. Serialize and Deserialize Binary Tree

## Hard

***

Serialization is the process of converting a data structure or object into a sequence of bits so that it can be stored in a file or memory buffer, or transmitted across a network connection link to be reconstructed later in the same or another computer environment.

Design an algorithm to serialize and deserialize a binary tree. There is no restriction on how your serialization/deserialization algorithm should work. You just need to ensure that a binary tree can be serialized to a string and this string can be deserialized to the original tree structure.

**Clarification:** The input/output format is the same as [how LeetCode serializes a binary tree](https://github.com/CJ8664/leetcode/blob/master/faq/README.md#binary-tree). You do not necessarily need to follow this format, so please be creative and come up with different approaches yourself.

&#x20;

**Example 1:**

![](https://assets.leetcode.com/uploads/2020/09/15/serdeser.jpg)

```
Input: root = [1,2,3,null,null,4,5]
Output: [1,2,3,null,null,4,5]
```

**Example 2:**

```
Input: root = []
Output: []
```

&#x20;

**Constraints:**

* The number of nodes in the tree is in the range `[0, 104]`.
* `-1000 <= Node.val <= 1000`
