serialize (tag)
| is_serialized() | Check the given value if it's a serialized string. |
| is_serialized_string() | Checks if a string is serialized in the specified serialized string. That is, whether the string (and not an array or number) was serialized. |
| maybe_serialize() | Serializes (turns into a string) the passed data if needed. |
| maybe_unserialize() | Unserialize data only if it was serialized or returns the original value. |