# man > Apache::Session::Serialize::Sybase

yaml
---
type: CommandReference
command: Apache::Session::Serialize::Sybase
mode: perldoc
section: 3pm
source: perldoc
---
## Quick Reference
- `Apache::Session::Serialize::Sybase::serialize($ref)` — serialize a data structure for Sybase IMAGE field
- `Apache::Session::Serialize::Sybase::unserialize($zipped)` — unserialize a Sybase IMAGE field back to a data structure

## Name
Apache::Session::Serialize::Sybase - Use Storable to zip up persistent data and unpack/pack to put into Sybase-compatible image field

## Synopsis
perl
use Apache::Session::Serialize::Sybase;

$zipped = Apache::Session::Serialize::Sybase::serialize($ref);
$ref = Apache::Session::Serialize::Sybase::unserialize($zipped);
## Description
This module fulfills the serialization interface of [Apache::Session](http://localhost/phpMan.php/perldoc/Apache%3A%3ASession/markdown) by taking the data from [Apache::Session::Serialize::Storable](http://localhost/phpMan.php/perldoc/Apache%3A%3ASession%3A%3ASerialize%3A%3AStorable/markdown) and modifying it to work with Sybase IMAGE fields. Note that you do **not** need to quote these values before inserting into the database, and that if you are using [DBI::Sybase](http://localhost/phpMan.php/perldoc/DBI%3A%3ASybase/markdown), you cannot use the data in a placeholder. If you use [Apache::Session::Sybase](http://localhost/phpMan.php/perldoc/Apache%3A%3ASession%3A%3ASybase/markdown) as your session class, this will all get taken care of.

## See Also
- [Apache::Session::Serialize::Storable](http://localhost/phpMan.php/perldoc/Apache%3A%3ASession%3A%3ASerialize%3A%3AStorable/markdown)
- [Apache::Session::Sybase](http://localhost/phpMan.php/perldoc/Apache%3A%3ASession%3A%3ASybase/markdown)