# What is Algorand's binary serialization format?

**URL:** https://forum.algorand.co/t/what-is-algorands-binary-serialization-format/421
**Category:** Uncategorized
**Created:** [April 18, 2019, 1:48pm UTC](https://forum.algorand.co/t/what-is-algorands-binary-serialization-format/421 "2019-04-18T13:48:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![wayne](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.algorand.co/wayne/32/105_2.png) [@wayne](https://forum.algorand.co/u/wayne)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2019, 1:48pm UTC](https://forum.algorand.co/t/what-is-algorands-binary-serialization-format/421/1 "2019-04-18T13:48:29Z")

</div>

I am looking at this transaction for example

[https://algoexplorer.io/tx/IAHIOLPF4274MPUQV4CRGTPL7QWKIHWTQHEXFX2XIGLTUE2EYTCQ](https://algoexplorer.io/tx/IAHIOLPF4274MPUQV4CRGTPL7QWKIHWTQHEXFX2XIGLTUE2EYTCQ)

How would I convert `FBPLS3VDAG7FU36BSD2WWGLX4QI223G52HKMK7N65NZKCEEOPY6E5R5MIU` to a byte stream for the public key bytes?

I am also curious about the tx id `IAHIOLPF4274MPUQV4CRGTPL7QWKIHWTQHEXFX2XIGLTUE2EYTCQ` and how that was converted from the sha bytes

As a follow on, I could answer my own question if I could inspect the source for myself. Is there any rough ETA date range for making algorand open source?

---

_[View the full topic](https://forum.algorand.co/t/what-is-algorands-binary-serialization-format/421)._