# What Is Protobuf?  ## Metadata - Author: [[Gbadebo Bello]] - Full Title: What Is Protobuf? - Category: #articles - Summary: Protobuf is a fast and compact way to store and send structured data using a binary format. Developers define data structures in .proto files, which are then compiled into code for different programming languages. It is widely used because it saves space, works across many languages, and helps keep data consistent and compatible over time. - URL: https://blog.postman.com/what-is-protobuf/ ## Highlights - Protobuf was originally developed by engineers at Google who needed an efficient way to serialize structured data across various internal services. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01k2n8av5eb6mnsyqwvfe6re3n)) - In 2015, Google released [gRPC](https://blog.postman.com/what-is-grpc/), which is a schema driven framework that facilitates service-to-service communication in distributed environments. Protobuf’s portability and efficiency make it the preferred data format for working with [gRPC APIs](https://blog.postman.com/how-to-build-a-grpc-api-in-node-js/), and the widespread adoption of gRPC has greatly contributed to the growth and popularity of Protobuf. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01k2n8dh9rxt8wecdmese0zjvx)) - Protobuf uses a binary data format, which is more compact and faster to read and write than text-based formats. It also provides an interface definition language (IDL) that makes it easy to define the structure of the data to be serialized. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01k2n8gwbj2v89993wcvaynjtj)) - The data is modeled as “messages,” which are groups of name-value pairs. Here’s an example of a simple Protobuf message in a `.proto` file: ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01k2n8hnmnvynrzjptch5pccwm)) - The `.proto` file can be compiled into several programming languages using Protoc, which is the Protobuf compiler. This compiler generates source code in the programming language that the developer specifies. This source code includes classes and methods for writing, reading, and manipulating the message type defined in the `.proto` file. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01k2n90cbjf4ah25y7efbmm7mp)) - Protobuf’s use of a binary serialization format makes it compact and efficient, and it provides direct support for defining RPCs in its `.proto` file. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01k2n9anrfgb1gh2z9hbwzgm92)) - JSON uses key-value pairs and XML uses tags to structure data. Additionally, JSON, XML, and YAML do not require a compilation step, as they do not serialize data into a binary format. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01k2n9agf17bxbedh6593e6h6r)) - **Efficiency:** Protobuf serializes data into a binary format, which is much more compact than equivalent data in text-based formats like JSON or XML ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01k2n9b2frfkeypv247vq8kbem)) - **Cross-language support:** Protobuf provides support for multiple programming languages, which makes it easy to integrate across polyglot microservice architectures. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01k2n9b7cafc4vfnc76ezrbsew)) - **Strong typing with a clear schema:** Protobuf requires developers to define a clear schema for data in `.proto` files. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01k2n9bgt34qfvcnx1nbnxcjc6)) - **Efficient network usage:** Protobuf’s compact binary format makes it an excellent choice for network communication, especially in environments where bandwidth is limited, such as mobile networks or IoT devices. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01k2n9c4azk74t6pk1weg9sq0v)) - **Maintain backward and forward compatibility:** Avoid removing or changing the meaning of existing fields. If you must make changes, deprecate fields rather than removing them. Additionally, use reserved tags and names for fields that have been removed to prevent future conflicts. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01k2n9dg4fgk1x1w9bfzpcgnt4)) - **Minimize use of the `Any` type:** While the `Any` type provides flexibility, it can be less efficient and more error-prone. Use specific field types wherever possible to benefit from strong typing and clearer interfaces. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01k2n9dnf7scsbzj4hrjbytzp6))