Object Compression in Java with Examples

Object Compression in Java

Java objects can be stored and transmitted more easily by using a method called Java Object Compression to shrink their size. The object will be compressed using a variety of classes and methods during this process, which can greatly decrease the size of the data. The complete amount of information can be retrieved by the recipient by decompressing the compressed object after it has been sent. When dealing with scarce resources, such as network bandwidth or disc space, this method can be helpful.

In this article, we will learn more about Java object compression.

What is Object Compression in Java?

As was already stated, object compression is a method used in Java to reduce objects by utilizing different classes and methods. While sending data over a network or storing it on a limited amount of disc space, this procedure can be beneficial because it entails compressing the object to reduce its size. When the compressed object is delivered to the recipient, they can decompress it to access all of the data.

Comparing the size of a file before and after compression can help you comprehend the efficacy of object compression. You can see the significant file size decrease by doing this.

Importance of Object Compression in Java

Object compression in Java is a technique that can greatly improve the efficiency of transferring large amounts of objects over a network. When sending objects, compression is applied on the sender side, and the objects are uncompressed upon receipt at the receiver end. This approach enables us to transfer heavy quantities of objects between two ends while optimizing the performance of the network. In summary, Java object compression is an effective solution for enhancing the transfer of objects over a network, especially when dealing with significant amounts of data.

How Java Implements Object Compression

Java object compression can be done by using the GZIPOutputStream class, which offers a stream filter for writing compressed data in the GZIP file format. The GZIPOutputStream class is used to write compressed versions of objects into external files. This class extends OutputStream and uses ObjectOutput and ObjectStreamConstants.

Java classes must be compressed by extending the Serializable class. This is so that we can accomplish our goal of compressing the object, which will be represented by the User object, which we must make serializable. We allow the User object to be compressed and decompressed during transmission by making it serializable, which promotes effective data transfer over the network.

How Java Implements Object Compression

We will see how to compress a Java object in this case. By defining the java.io.Serializable interface, we must first verify that the object is serializable.

The User object will serve as the example object. The GZIPOutputStream class can compact an object once it has been serializable. The ObjectOutputStream class can then be used to write the encoded object to an external file. The full piece of code is provided below.

Algorithm

• Step 1 − The java.util.zip package must first be loaded before you can use classes that manage the ZIP and GZIP file formats.

• Step 2 − The very first step in compressing an object is to create the object's class. As an illustration, your User class might include attributes like firstName, lastName, id, login, and password.

• Step 3 − The entity must then be compressed using the Java GZIPOutputStream method. Create a fresh copy of the class object and give it an OutputStream object to accomplish this.

• Step 4 − Use the FileOutputStream class if you want to save the encoded object to a file or stream. Doing so allows you to store the compressed item in a file for subsequent access.

Example 1

The given code is an example of how to compress an object using GZIPOutputStream in Java.

package org.codejava.util.support;
import java.io.Serializable;
public class User implements Serializable {
   private Long id;
   private String username;
   private String password;
   private String firstName;
   private String lastName;
   public User() {
   }
   public Long getId() {
      return id;
   }
   public void setId(Long id) {
      this.id = id;
   }
   public String getUsername() {
      return username;
   }
   public void setUsername(String username) {
      this.username = username;
   }
   public String getPassword() {
      return password;
   }
   public void setPassword(String password) {
      this.password = password;
   }
   public String getFirstName() {
      return firstName;
   }
   public void setFirstName(String firstName) {
      this.firstName = firstName;
   }
   public String getLastName() {
      return lastName;
   }
   public void setLastName(String lastName) {
      this.lastName = lastName;
   }
   @Override
   public String toString() {
      return "User{" + "id=" + id + ", username='" + username + ''' + ", password='" + password + ''' + ", firstName='" + firstName + ''' + ", lastName='" + lastName + ''' +'}';
   }
   public static void main(String[] args) {
      User user = new User();
      user.setId(1L);
      user.setUsername("Tutorialspoint");
      user.setPassword("learn");
      user.setFirstName("Tutorials");
      user.setLastName("Point");
      System.out.println(user);
   }
}

Output

User{id=1, username='Tutorialspoint', password='learn', firstName='Tutorials', lastName='Point'}

Conclusion

Compressing Java objects can be a useful method to minimise the quantity of data being saved or transferred when working with limited disc space or network transmission. This can greatly enhance network performance and make it simpler to effectively move a lot of objects.

Java supports object compression through the Serializable class and other classes like GZIPOutputStream. Java's object compression features provide an advantageous tool for handling sizable data collections. Java object encoding can significantly speed up the transfer of objects across a network.