active_model_serializers/docs/howto/serialize_poro.md

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# How to serialize a Plain-Old Ruby Object (PORO)

When you are first getting started with ActiveModelSerializers, it may seem only `ActiveRecord::Base` objects can be serializable,
but pretty much any object can be serializable with ActiveModelSerializers.
Here is an example of a PORO that is serializable in most situations:

```ruby
# my_model.rb
class MyModel
  alias :read_attribute_for_serialization :send
  attr_accessor :id, :name, :level

  def initialize(attributes)
    @id = attributes[:id]
    @name = attributes[:name]
    @level = attributes[:level]
  end

  def self.model_name
    @_model_name ||= ActiveModel::Name.new(self)
  end
end
```

The [ActiveModel::Serializer::Lint::Tests](../../lib/active_model/serializer/lint.rb)
define and validate which methods ActiveModelSerializers expects to be implemented.

An implementation of the complete spec is included either for use or as reference:
[`ActiveModelSerializers::Model`](../../lib/active_model_serializers/model.rb).
You can use in production code that will make your PORO a lot cleaner.

The above code now becomes:

```ruby
# my_model.rb
class MyModel < ActiveModelSerializers::Model
  attributes :id, :name, :level
end
```

The default serializer would be `MyModelSerializer`.

For more information, see [README: What does a 'serializable resource' look like?](../../README.md#what-does-a-serializable-resource-look-like).