set a specific packet format ...java

Question

I want to create a chat application, so I need to create a specific packet format .

for example)

lets consider that pkt is the structure

pkt {
    type_no;
    msg;
    dest_ID;
    .
    .
    .
    .
}

Is it a good way to create a packet class and send the whole object? like:

public class Packet implements Serializable  {
    private static final long serialVersionUID  = 1L;
    private int type;
    private String data1;
    private String data2;
    private String clientID;
    private String destID;
    private boolean hasFile=false;
    private boolean hasList;
    private byte[] file ;
    private HashMap <String,String> onlineList = new HashMap<>();
.
.
.
.
.

Or there is a better way to handle this?

Thanx

Answer 1

Method for sending class via socket

for example:

public class packet implements Serializable  {


    String msg;
    int no;
    int Id;
    String info;

}

create new object

packet pkt = new packet();
pkt.msg="HI";
pkt.Id=2;
.
.
.

For sending use

// simple code 
ObjectOutputStream outputStream;
outputStream = new ObjectOutputStream(socket.getOutputStream());   
outputStream.writeObject(pkt);
socket.close();

For receiving use

// simple code 
ObjectInputStream inStream;
inStream = new ObjectInputStream(socket.getInputStream());
packet rcvPkt = (packet)inStream.readObject(); 
socket.close();

you will have the information in rcvPkt. I hope that this answer helps.