# dhtmlxtree:serialization_caching_and_removing_tree [DHX documentation]

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## Serialization, Caching and Removing Tree

### Serializing Tree

The user can get an XML representation (as a string) of the tree using method serializeTree():

        <script>
            tree.serializeTree();
        </script>

Also there is the possibility to return the tree as a JSON string like this:

        <script>
            tree.serializeTreeToJSON();
        </script>

### Setting Serialization Level

XML serialization can be easily configured in the following way:

        <script>
            tree.setSerializationLevel(userData,fullXML,escapeEntities,userDataAsCData,DTD);
        </script>

The parameters are as follows:

- userData - enable/disable user data serialization;
- fullXML - enable/disable full XML serialization;
- escapeEntities - convert tag brackets to related html entities;
- userDataAsCData - output user data in CDATA sections;
- DTD - if specified, then set as XML's DTD.

### Preventing Caching in IE

The user can prevent caching in IE by adding random value to URL string with the help of method preventIECaching():

        <script>
            tree.preventIECaching(true|false); // false by default
        </script>

### Registering XML Entity

There is the possibility in dhtmlxTree to register an XML entity for replacement of special symbols while initialization of the tree (default ones are: ampersand, “less then” and “greater then” symbols):

          <script>
              tree.registerXMLEntity(rChar,rEntity);
          </script>

The parameters are the following:

- rChar - source char;
- rEntity - target entity.

### Removing Tree

There is a simple method that allows the user to remove the tree completely and to clear memory:

        <script>
            tree.destructor();
        </script>