# Netstrings: A Simple Data Serialization Format from 1997

The netstrings protocol, proposed by Daniel J. Bernstein in 1997, defines a lightweight, textual serialization format for byte strings. It uses a length-prefix and colon delimiter to encode data, making it simple to parse and implement. While not widely adopted, netstrings remain a clear example of minimalist data encoding useful for educational and niche applications.

**Importance:** 2/5

## Sources

### Technology
- [Hacker News](https://cr.yp.to/proto/netstrings.txt) — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 05:33:50 +0000