Question

I understand that DataContractSerializer is opt-in… properties or fields that should be serialized are decorated with DataMemberAttribute.

Is there a standard, or at least common, method to succinctly indicate (to another programmer, not to the compiler) that a property should NOT be part of the data contract?

The XmlSerializer has XmlIgnore (out of necessity, since it is an opt-out serializer). Hibernate has a transient annotation.

What’s the best approach to document for future maintainers “yes, indeed, I meant to leave off the DataMember attribute”?

Answer 1

If I understand you correctly, the IgnoreDataMemberAttribute is what you want.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.runtime.serialization.ignoredatamemberattribute.aspx

Hope this helps.
Nate