What kind of data format is that?

Question

I found this record in the database which is used to hold multiple values. I want to know what is this format called so that I know how to deal with it?

a:4:         


        

Answer 1

You can use unserialize($sVarwiththeSerializedData) to revert it to the original state .

Answer 2

It is a PHP serialized object, i.e. an object serialized with serialize() function: http://php.net/manual/en/function.serialize.php

For instance (from the manual):

class A {
    public $one = 1;

    public function show_one() {
        echo $this->one;
    }
}

$a = new A;
$s = serialize($a);
file_put_contents('store', $s);

Gives:

O:1:"A":1:{s:3:"one";i:1;}