XmlIgnoreAttribute, only used during serialization, not during deserialization?

Question

Am I right in understanding the .NET XmlIgnoreAttribute, which says:

Instructs the Serialize method of the XmlSerializer not to serialize the public f

Answer 1

If you tag a property with XmlIgnore, it is ignored. It is not considered when the XmlSerializer builds its serialisation assembly. Therefore, XmlIgnore-d properties are not populated during deserialisation, and will be left with their default value.

Sample program (for Snippet Compiler):

public static void RunSnippet()
{
  XmlSerializer ser = new XmlSerializer(typeof(Fie));
  Fie f = (Fie)(ser.Deserialize(new StringReader("<Fie><Bob>Hello</Bob></Fie>")));
  WL(f.Bob == null ? "null" : "something");
}

public class Fie
{
  [XmlIgnore]
  public string Bob { get; set; }
}

The output from this program is null (and if you remove XmlIgnore from Fie.Bob the output is something).

Edit in response to your edit: This is not just an implementation detail; it is indeed the documented behaviour of the attribute. From the Remarks section of the docs (first paragraph): "If you apply the XmlIgnoreAttribute to any member of a class, the XmlSerializer ignores the member when serializing or deserializing an instance of the class." (emphasis added)