DataContractSerializer doesn't call my constructor?

Question

I just realized something crazy, which I assumed to be completely impossible : when deserializing an object, the DataContractSerializer doesn\'t call the constructor

Answer 1

Use [OnDeserialized] attribute to initialise your properties.

// This method is called after the object
// is completely deserialized. Use it instead of the
// constructror.
[OnDeserialized]
void OnDeserialized(StreamingContext context)
{
    fullName = firstName + " " + lastName;
}

Please refer to microsoft guid-lines: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/standard/serialization/serialization-guidelines