diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 37fc1f3..a23df22 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -6,8 +6,10 @@ option(BUILD_EXAMPLES "Build examples" ON)
 set(LIB_HEADERS
     include/snipplib/concepts/snplib_concepts.h
     include/snipplib/utils/snplib_hash.h
+    include/snipplib/utils/snplib_string.h
     include/snipplib/utils/snplib_utils.h
     include/snipplib/containers/snplib_hmap.h
+    include/snipplib/serialization/snplib_serialization.h
 )
 
 add_library(${PROJECT_NAME} INTERFACE ${LIB_HEADERS})
diff --git a/examples/hmap_example.cpp b/examples/hmap_example.cpp
index 4906bc2..397e11b 100644
--- a/examples/hmap_example.cpp
+++ b/examples/hmap_example.cpp
@@ -104,7 +104,14 @@ int main()
         if (ri) {  // should not be
             std::println("hmap_move['int_key'] = {}", ri.value());
         } else {
-            std::println("cannot get value of hmap_move['int_key']");
+            std::println("cannot get value of hmap_move['int_key'] as int");
+        }
+
+        auto rd = hmap_move.get<double>("int_key");
+        if (rd) {  // should not be
+            std::println("hmap_move['int_key'] = {}", rd.value());
+        } else {
+            std::println("cannot get value of hmap_move['int_key'] as double");
         }
 
         ri = hmap_copy.get<int>("int_key");
@@ -115,5 +122,11 @@ int main()
         }
     }
 
+    std::println("\n{:*^80}", " hmap size ");
+
+    std::println("hmap.size() = {}", hmap.size());
+    std::println("hmap_move.size() = {}", hmap_move.size());
+    std::println("hmap_copy.size() = {}", hmap_copy.size());
+
     return 0;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/include/snipplib/concepts/snplib_concepts.h b/include/snipplib/concepts/snplib_concepts.h
index 2f477c0..5083ce9 100644
--- a/include/snipplib/concepts/snplib_concepts.h
+++ b/include/snipplib/concepts/snplib_concepts.h
@@ -7,13 +7,15 @@
 namespace snplib
 {
 
-// type T is hashable
+/*                          type T is hashable                          */
+
 template <typename T>
 concept snplib_hashable_c = requires(T t) {
     { std::hash<T>{}(t) } -> std::convertible_to<size_t>;
 };
 
-// some concepts for various types of char sequence
+/*                          some concepts for various types of char sequence                            */
+
 template <typename T, typename CharT = char>
 concept snplib_char_range_c = std::ranges::range<T> && std::same_as<std::ranges::range_value_t<T>, CharT>;
 
@@ -27,7 +29,7 @@ template <typename T, typename CharT = char>
 concept snplib_char_view_c = std::ranges::view<T> && std::same_as<std::ranges::range_value_t<T>, CharT>;
 
 
-// std::chrono related concepts
+/*                          std::chrono related concepts                            */
 
 template <typename T>
 concept snplib_time_duration_c = requires(T t) {
@@ -50,11 +52,104 @@ concept snplib_systime_point_c = snplib_time_point_c<T, std::chrono::system_cloc
 template <typename T>
 concept snplib_utctime_point_c = snplib_time_point_c<T, std::chrono::utc_clock>;
 
+template <typename T>
+concept snplib_anytime_point_c =
+    snplib_systime_point_c<T> || snplib_utctime_point_c<T> || snplib_time_point_c<T, std::chrono::tai_clock> ||
+    snplib_time_point_c<T, std::chrono::gps_clock> || snplib_time_point_c<T, std::chrono::file_clock> ||
+    snplib_time_point_c<T, std::chrono::local_t>;
 
-// callables (does not working for templated functions/methods and generic lambdas!)
+
+/*                          callables (NOTE: does not working for templated functions/methods and generic lambdas!) */
 
 template <typename T>
 concept snplib_callable_c = std::is_function_v<T> || (std::is_object_v<T> && requires(T) { &T::operator(); });
 
 
+/*                          std::tuple-like types                           */
+
+namespace details
+{
+
+template <typename T, size_t... Is>
+concept snplib_get_all_indices_c = requires(T t) { (std::get<Is>(t), ...); };
+
+template <typename T>
+struct snplib_check_indices_t {
+    static constexpr bool value = false;
+};
+
+// Specialize to extract the index sequence matching the tuple size
+template <typename T>
+    requires requires { typename std::tuple_size<T>::type; }
+struct snplib_check_indices_t<T> {
+    static constexpr bool value = []<std::size_t... Is>(std::index_sequence<Is...>) {
+        return snplib_get_all_indices_c<T, Is...>;
+    }(std::make_index_sequence<std::tuple_size<T>::value>{});
+};
+
+template <typename T>
+static constexpr bool snplib_check_indices_v = snplib_check_indices_t<T>::value;
+
+}  // namespace details
+
+template <typename T>
+concept snplib_tuple_like_c = details::snplib_check_indices_v<std::remove_cvref_t<T>>;
+
+
+/*                          fixed-size and non-resizable ranges                         */
+
+// std::array, std::span(v_t, N), std::tuple
+template <typename T>
+concept snplib_fixed_size_range_c =
+    std::ranges::range<T> && requires { std::tuple_size<std::remove_cvref_t<T>>::value; };
+
+// non-resizable ranges
+template <typename T>
+concept snplib_non_resizable_range_c = std::ranges::range<T> && !requires(T r, std::size_t n) { r.resize(n); };
+
+
+
+/*                          an concept for error-type                    */
+
+//
+// a default-constructible type wich can be converted to bool-type
+// NOTE: in the SNIPPETS LIBRARY it is assumed that default constructed
+//       objects of the 'snplib_error_c' types are converted to 'false', i.e.:
+//
+//       T v;
+//       bool ok = v == false; // 'ok' must be 'true'
+//
+//
+
+template <typename T>
+concept snplib_error_c = std::constructible_from<T> && requires(T&& t) {
+    static_cast<bool>(std::forward<T>(t));
+
+    { !std::forward<T>(t) } -> std::convertible_to<bool>;
+};
+
+// utility function to deduce error-type
+
+template <snplib_error_c ErrT, snplib_error_c FallbackErrT>
+static auto snplib_deduced_error(ErrT const& err, FallbackErrT const& fallback_err)
+{
+    if constexpr (std::same_as<ErrT, FallbackErrT>) {
+        return err;
+    } else if constexpr (std::is_error_code_enum_v<FallbackErrT>) {  // special case
+        if constexpr (std::same_as<ErrT, std::error_code>) {
+            return err;
+        } else {
+            return fallback_err;
+        }
+    } else if constexpr (std::is_error_condition_enum_v<FallbackErrT>) {  // special case
+        if constexpr (std::same_as<ErrT, std::error_condition>) {
+            return err;
+        } else {
+            return fallback_err;
+        }
+    } else {
+        return fallback_err;
+    }
+}
+
 }  // namespace snplib
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/include/snipplib/containers/snplib_hmap.h b/include/snipplib/containers/snplib_hmap.h
index 46588ea..997fafd 100644
--- a/include/snipplib/containers/snplib_hmap.h
+++ b/include/snipplib/containers/snplib_hmap.h
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ protected:
     inline static std::vector<std::function<void(const HeterogenMap*, HeterogenMap*)>> _copyFunc{};
 
     inline static std::vector<std::function<void(HeterogenMap*)>> _clearFunc{};
+    inline static std::vector<std::function<size_t(const HeterogenMap*)>> _sizeFunc{};
     inline static std::vector<std::function<bool(KeyT const&, const HeterogenMap*)>> _eraseFunc{};
     inline static std::vector<std::function<bool(KeyT const&, const HeterogenMap*)>> _containsFunc{};
 
@@ -119,6 +120,18 @@ public:
         }
     }
 
+
+    size_t size() const
+    {
+        size_t N = 0;
+
+        for (auto& func : _sizeFunc) {
+            N += func(this);
+        }
+
+        return N;
+    }
+
     template <typename VT>
     bool push(KeyT const& key, VT&& value)
     {
@@ -156,6 +169,8 @@ public:
                 _setter<v_t>[obj].clear();
             });
 
+            _sizeFunc.emplace_back([](const HeterogenMap* obj) { return _values<v_t>[obj].size(); });
+
             _eraseFunc.emplace_back([](KeyT const& k, const HeterogenMap* obj) {
                 bool do_delete = _values<v_t>[obj].erase(k) != 0;
                 if (do_delete) {
diff --git a/include/snipplib/serialization/snplib_serialization.h b/include/snipplib/serialization/snplib_serialization.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e6535fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/snipplib/serialization/snplib_serialization.h
@@ -0,0 +1,518 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "../concepts/snplib_concepts.h"
+#include "snipplib/utils/snplib_string.h"
+
+namespace snplib
+{
+
+
+/*                          SERIALIZATION/DESERIALIZATION PROCESS ERROR TYPE                           */
+
+typedef std::error_code snplib_serialization_error_t;
+
+/*                          SERIALIZATION/DESERIALIZATION PROCESS TUNING PARAMETERS                            */
+
+
+// delimiter between items of serializing values sequence
+static constexpr std::string_view SNPLIB_SERIALIZING_DEFAULT_SEQ_DELIMITER{";"};
+
+// delimiter between items of aggregative (multi-element) serializing value
+static constexpr std::string_view SNPLIB_SERIALIZING_DEFAULT_ELEM_DELIMITER{","};
+
+
+template <typename T>
+concept snplib_serialization_params_c = std::copyable<T> && requires(T t) {
+    // delimiter between items of serializing values sequence
+    requires snplib_output_char_range_c<decltype(t.elem_delim)>;
+
+    // delimiter between items of aggregative (multi-element) serializing value
+    requires snplib_output_char_range_c<decltype(t.seq_delim)>;
+
+    // a format string for std::chrono::time_point types
+    requires snplib_output_char_range_c<decltype(t.timepoint_format)>;
+};
+
+
+// default serializatio/deserialization process parameters type
+struct snplib_serialization_params_t {
+    std::string elem_delim{SNPLIB_SERIALIZING_DEFAULT_ELEM_DELIMITER};
+    std::string seq_delim{SNPLIB_SERIALIZING_DEFAULT_SEQ_DELIMITER};
+
+    std::string integer_format{"{:d}"};
+    std::string real_format{"{:g}"};
+
+    std::string timepoint_format{"{:%FT%T}"};
+};
+
+
+/*                          SERIALIZER/DESERIALIZER CONCEPTS                            */
+
+template <snplib_error_c RetT>
+struct snplib_serializer_interface_t {
+    virtual ~snplib_serializer_interface_t() = default;
+
+    typedef RetT error_t;
+
+    template <std::derived_from<snplib_serializer_interface_t> SelfT, snplib_output_char_range_c R, typename ValueT>
+    RetT operator()(this SelfT&& self, R& output, ValueT const& value)
+    {
+        return std::forward<SelfT>(self)(output, value);
+    }
+
+    template <std::derived_from<snplib_serializer_interface_t> SelfT, snplib_output_char_range_c R, typename ValueT>
+    RetT operator()(this SelfT&& self, R& output, ValueT const& value, snplib_serialization_params_c auto const& params)
+    {
+        return std::forward<SelfT>(self)(output, value, params);
+    }
+
+protected:
+    snplib_serializer_interface_t() = default;
+};
+
+
+template <typename T>
+concept snplib_serializer_c =
+    std::derived_from<T, snplib_serializer_interface_t<typename T::error_t>> && requires(T t, const T t_const) {
+        // static const variable with name of the serializer
+        requires std::formattable<decltype(T::serializerName), char> && std::is_const_v<decltype(T::serializerName)>;
+    };
+
+
+
+template <snplib_error_c RetT>
+struct snplib_deserializer_interface_t {
+    virtual ~snplib_deserializer_interface_t() = default;
+
+    typedef RetT error_t;
+
+    template <std::derived_from<snplib_deserializer_interface_t> SelfT, snplib_input_char_range_c R, typename ValueT>
+    RetT operator()(this SelfT&& self, R const& input, ValueT& value)
+    {
+        return std::forward<SelfT>(self)(input, value);
+    }
+
+    template <std::derived_from<snplib_deserializer_interface_t> SelfT, snplib_input_char_range_c R, typename ValueT>
+    RetT operator()(this SelfT&& self, R const& input, ValueT& value, snplib_serialization_params_c auto& params)
+    {
+        return std::forward<SelfT>(self)(input, value, params);
+    }
+
+protected:
+    snplib_deserializer_interface_t() = default;
+};
+
+
+template <typename T>
+concept snplib_deserializer_c =
+    std::derived_from<T, snplib_deserializer_interface_t<typename T::error_t>> && requires(T t, const T t_const) {
+        // static const variable with name of the deserializer
+        requires std::formattable<decltype(T::deserializerName), char> &&
+                     std::is_const_v<decltype(T::deserializerName)>;
+    };
+
+
+
+/*                          SERIALIZATION/DESERIALIZATION PROCESS ERROR CODES                            */
+
+enum class snplib_serializer_error_e : int { ERROR_OK, ERROR_UNDERLYING_SERIALIZER };
+
+enum class snplib_deserializer_error_e : int {
+    ERROR_OK,
+    ERROR_UNDERLYING_DESERIALIZER,
+    ERROR_INVALID_SERIALIZED_VALUE
+};
+
+}  // end of namespace snplib
+
+
+namespace std
+{
+
+template <>
+class is_error_code_enum<snplib::snplib_serializer_error_e> : public true_type
+{
+};
+
+template <>
+class is_error_code_enum<snplib::snplib_deserializer_error_e> : public true_type
+{
+};
+
+}  // end of namespace std
+
+
+
+namespace snplib
+{
+
+
+/*                          BASIC IMPLEMENTATION OF SERIALIZER AND DESERIALIZER CLASSES                            */
+
+
+/*                          error categories                            */
+
+struct snplib_serializer_error_category_t : public std::error_category {
+    snplib_serializer_error_category_t() : std::error_category() {}
+
+    const char* name() const noexcept
+    {
+        return "SNPLIB-SERIALIZER-ERR-CATEGORY";
+    }
+
+    std::string message(int ec) const
+    {
+        snplib_serializer_error_e err = static_cast<snplib_serializer_error_e>(ec);
+
+        switch (err) {
+            case snplib_serializer_error_e::ERROR_OK:
+                return "OK";
+            case snplib_serializer_error_e::ERROR_UNDERLYING_SERIALIZER:
+                return "error returned by underlying serializer";
+            default:
+                return "UNKNOWN";
+        }
+    }
+
+    static const snplib_serializer_error_category_t& get()
+    {
+        static const snplib_serializer_error_category_t constInst;
+        return constInst;
+    }
+};
+
+
+struct snplib_deserializer_error_category_t : public std::error_category {
+    snplib_deserializer_error_category_t() : std::error_category() {}
+
+    const char* name() const noexcept
+    {
+        return "SNPLIB-DESERIALIZER-ERR-CATEGORY";
+    }
+
+    std::string message(int ec) const
+    {
+        snplib_deserializer_error_e err = static_cast<snplib_deserializer_error_e>(ec);
+
+        switch (err) {
+            case snplib_deserializer_error_e::ERROR_OK:
+                return "OK";
+            case snplib_deserializer_error_e::ERROR_UNDERLYING_DESERIALIZER:
+                return "error returned by underlying deserializer";
+            case snplib_deserializer_error_e::ERROR_INVALID_SERIALIZED_VALUE:
+                return "invalid serialized value";
+            default:
+                return "UNKNOWN";
+        }
+    }
+
+    static const snplib_deserializer_error_category_t& get()
+    {
+        static const snplib_deserializer_error_category_t constInst;
+        return constInst;
+    }
+};
+
+
+
+/*                          BASE SERIALIZER CLASS (FOR IMPLEMENTATIONS BELOW)    */
+
+struct snplib_serializer_base_t : snplib_serializer_interface_t<snplib_serialization_error_t> {
+    virtual ~snplib_serializer_base_t() = default;
+
+    using typename snplib_serializer_interface_t<snplib_serialization_error_t>::error_t;
+
+protected:
+    snplib_serializer_base_t() = default;
+
+    static void addElemDelimiter(snplib_output_char_range_c auto& output,
+                                 snplib_serialization_params_c auto const& params)
+    {
+        std::format_to(std::back_inserter(output), "{}", params.elem_delim);
+    }
+
+
+    static void addSeqDelimiter(snplib_output_char_range_c auto& output,
+                                snplib_serialization_params_c auto const& params)
+    {
+        std::format_to(std::back_inserter(output), "{}", params.seq_delim);
+    }
+
+
+    template <typename VT, typename R>
+        requires(std::ranges::input_range<R> && std::same_as<VT, std::ranges::range_value_t<R>>)
+    static error_t serializeRange(snplib_serializer_c auto& sr,
+                                  R const& r,
+                                  snplib_output_char_range_c auto& output,
+                                  snplib_serialization_params_c auto const& params)
+    {
+        size_t i = 0, N = std::ranges::size(r);
+
+        for (auto const& el : r) {
+            auto err = sr(output, el, params);
+            if (err) {
+                return snplib_deduced_error(err, snplib_serializer_error_e::ERROR_UNDERLYING_SERIALIZER);
+            }
+            if (++i < N) {
+                snplib_serializer_base_t::addElemDelimiter(output, params);
+            }
+        }
+
+        return snplib_serializer_error_e::ERROR_OK;
+    }
+};
+
+
+
+/*                          BASE DESERIALIZER CLASS (FOR IMPLEMENTATIONS BELOW)    */
+
+
+struct snplib_deserializer_base_t : snplib_deserializer_interface_t<snplib_serialization_error_t> {
+    using typename snplib_deserializer_interface_t<snplib_serialization_error_t>::error_t;
+
+    virtual ~snplib_deserializer_base_t() = default;
+
+
+protected:
+    snplib_deserializer_base_t() = default;
+
+    //
+    // empty == true, if the 'input' is empty or if all elements consist of only spaces
+    //
+    static std::vector<std::string_view> splitValueIntoElements(snplib_input_char_range_c auto const& input,
+                                                                snplib_serialization_params_c auto const& params,
+                                                                bool& empty)
+    {
+        static_assert(std::ranges::contiguous_range<decltype(input)>, "NOT IMPLEMENTED FOR NON-CONTIGUIUS RANGES!!!");
+
+        std::vector<std::string_view> res;
+
+        if (std::ranges::size(input)) {
+            empty = true;
+
+            std::ranges::for_each(std::views::split(input, params.elem_delim), [&res, &empty](auto const& el) {
+                std::back_inserter(res) = snplib_trim_spaces_as_view(std::string_view{el.begin(), el.end()});
+                if (empty && res.back().size()) {
+                    empty = false;
+                }
+            });
+        } else {
+            empty = true;
+        }
+
+        return res;
+    }
+
+
+    template <typename VT, std::ranges::output_range<VT> R, typename... DeserParamsT>
+    static error_t deserializingRange(snplib_deserializer_c auto& dsr,
+                                      snplib_input_char_range_c auto const& input,
+                                      R& r,
+                                      snplib_serialization_params_c auto const& params)
+    {
+        if (std::ranges::size(input) == 0) {  // ignore an empty input, just return empty range?!!
+            r = R{};
+            return snplib_deserializer_error_e::ERROR_OK;
+        }
+
+        // auto r_str = std::views::split(input, params.seq_delim);
+        auto r_str = std::views::split(input, params.elem_delim);
+        VT val;
+
+        auto it = r.begin();
+        for (auto const& el : r_str) {
+            // auto err = dsr(el, val, std::forward<DeserParamsT>(params)...);
+            auto err = dsr(el, val, params);
+            if (err) {
+                return snplib_deduced_error(err, snplib_deserializer_error_e::ERROR_UNDERLYING_DESERIALIZER);
+            }
+
+            if (it == r.end()) {
+                if constexpr (!snplib_fixed_size_range_c<R>) {
+                    std::back_inserter(r) = val;
+                    it = r.end();
+                }
+            } else {
+                *it = val;
+                ++it;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return snplib_deserializer_error_e::ERROR_OK;
+    }
+};
+
+
+
+/*                          MAIN (FALLBACK) TEMPLATED IMPLEMENTATION OF SERIALIZER/DESERIALIZER */
+
+template <typename VT>
+struct snplib_serializer_t : snplib_serializer_base_t {
+    constexpr static std::string_view serializerName{"SNPLIB-FALLBACK-SERIALIZER"};
+
+    template <snplib_serialization_params_c ParamsT = snplib_serialization_params_t>
+    error_t operator()(snplib_output_char_range_c auto& output,
+                       VT const& value,
+                       ParamsT const& params = snplib_serialization_params_t{})
+    {
+        if constexpr (std::convertible_to<VT, std::string>) {
+            std::string s = value;
+            std::ranges::copy(s, std::back_inserter(output));
+        } else if constexpr (std::ranges::range<VT>) {
+            using value_t = std::remove_cv_t<std::ranges::range_value_t<VT>>;
+
+            // special range (character sequence)
+            if constexpr (std::same_as<value_t, char>) {
+                std::ranges::copy(value, std::back_inserter(output));
+            } else {
+                snplib_serializer_t<value_t> sr;
+
+                return snplib_serializer_base_t::serializeRange<value_t>(sr, value, output, params);
+            }
+        } else if constexpr (snplib_tuple_like_c<VT>) {
+            return [&output, &params]<size_t I = 0>(this auto& self, VT& tp) -> error_t {
+                if constexpr (I < (std::tuple_size_v<VT> - 1)) {
+                    auto err = snplib_serializer_t<std::tuple_element_t<I, VT>>{}(output, std::get<I>(tp), params);
+                    if (err) {
+                        return snplib_deduced_error(err, snplib_serializer_error_e::ERROR_UNDERLYING_SERIALIZER);
+                    }
+
+                    snplib_serializer_base_t::addElemDelimiter(output, params);
+
+                    return self.template operator()<I + 1>(tp);
+                } else if constexpr (I < (std::tuple_size_v<VT> - 1)) {  // the last element
+                    auto err = snplib_serializer_t<std::tuple_element_t<I, VT>>{}(output, std::get<I>(tp), params);
+                    if (err) {
+                        return snplib_deduced_error(err, snplib_serializer_error_e::ERROR_UNDERLYING_SERIALIZER);
+                    }
+
+                    return snplib_serializer_error_e::ERROR_OK;
+                }
+            }(value);
+        } else if constexpr (snplib_anytime_point_c<VT>) {
+            std::string_view fmt{params.timepoint_format};
+            std::vformat_to(std::back_inserter(output), fmt, std::make_format_args(value));
+        } else if constexpr (snplib_time_duration_c<VT>) {
+            std::format_to(std::back_inserter(output), "{}", value.count());
+        } else if constexpr (std::integral<VT>) {
+            std::vformat_to(std::back_inserter(output), std::string_view{params.integer_format},
+                            std::make_format_args(value));
+        } else if constexpr (std::floating_point<VT>) {
+            std::vformat_to(std::back_inserter(output), std::string_view{params.real_format},
+                            std::make_format_args(value));
+        } else if constexpr (std::formattable<VT, char>) {
+            std::format_to(std::back_inserter(output), "{}", value);
+        } else {
+            static_assert(false, "UNSUPPORTED TYPE!!!");
+        }
+
+        return snplib_serializer_error_e::ERROR_OK;
+    }
+};
+
+
+
+template <typename VT>
+struct snplib_deserializer_t : snplib_deserializer_base_t {
+    static constexpr std::string_view deserializerName{"SNPLIB-FALLBACK-DESERIALIZER"};
+
+    virtual ~snplib_deserializer_t() = default;
+
+
+    template <snplib_serialization_params_c ParamsT = snplib_serialization_params_t>
+    error_t operator()(snplib_input_char_range_c auto const& input,
+                       VT& value,
+                       ParamsT const& params = snplib_serialization_params_t{})
+    {
+        if constexpr (std::is_arithmetic_v<VT>) {
+            auto v = snplib_num_from_range<VT>(snplib_trim_spaces<std::string>(input));
+            if (!v.has_value()) {
+                return snplib_deserializer_error_e::ERROR_INVALID_SERIALIZED_VALUE;
+            }
+
+            value = v.value();
+        } else if constexpr (snplib_output_char_range_c<VT>) {
+            VT r;
+            if constexpr (snplib_fixed_size_range_c<VT>) {
+                size_t N =
+                    std::ranges::size(r) <= std::ranges::size(input) ? std::ranges::size(r) : std::ranges::size(input);
+
+                for (size_t i = 0; i < N; ++i) {
+                    r[i] = input[i];
+                }
+                if (std::ranges::size(r) > N) {
+                    for (size_t i = N; i < std::ranges::size(r); ++i) {
+                        r[i] = '\0';
+                    }
+                }
+            } else {
+                std::ranges::copy(input, std::back_inserter(r));
+            }
+
+            value = r;
+        } else if constexpr (std::ranges::range<VT>) {
+            using el_t = std::ranges::range_value_t<VT>;
+
+            static_assert(std::ranges::output_range<VT, el_t>, "INVALID RANGE TYPE!!!");
+
+            // no reference or constants allowed
+            static_assert(!(std::is_reference_v<el_t> || std::is_const_v<el_t>), "INVALID RANGE ELEMENT TYPE!!!");
+
+            snplib_deserializer_t<el_t> dsr;
+
+            return deserializingRange<el_t>(dsr, input, value, params);
+        } else if constexpr (snplib_tuple_like_c<VT>) {
+            bool empty;
+            auto elems = splitValueIntoElements(input, params, &empty);
+            if (empty) {
+                value = VT{};
+            } else {
+                return [&input, &params, &elems]<size_t I = 0>(this auto& self, VT& tp) {
+                    if constexpr (I < std::tuple_size_v<VT>) {
+                        if (I < elems.size()) {
+                            auto err =
+                                snplib_deserializer_t<std::tuple_element_t<I, VT>>{}(elems[I], std::get<I>(tp), params);
+                            if (err) {
+                                return snplib_deduced_error(err,
+                                                            snplib_deserializer_error_e::ERROR_UNDERLYING_DESERIALIZER);
+                            }
+
+                            return self.template operator()<I + 1>(tp);
+                        } else {
+                            return snplib_deserializer_error_e::ERROR_OK;
+                        }
+                    }
+
+                    return snplib_deserializer_error_e::ERROR_OK;
+                }(value);
+            }
+
+        } else if constexpr (snplib_anytime_point_c<VT>) {
+            std::istringstream ist{snplib_trim_spaces<std::string>(input)};
+            std::chrono::from_stream(ist, params.timepoint_format.c_str(), value);
+            if (ist.fail()) {
+                return snplib_deserializer_error_e::ERROR_INVALID_SERIALIZED_VALUE;
+            }
+        } else if constexpr (snplib_time_duration_c<VT>) {
+            typename VT::rep vd;
+
+            snplib_deserializer_t<typename VT::rep> dsr;
+
+            auto err = dsr(snplib_trim_spaces_as_view(input), vd, params);
+            if (err) {
+                return snplib_deduced_err(err, snplib_deserializer_error_e::ERROR_UNDERLYING_DESERIALIZER);
+            }
+
+            value = VT{vd};
+        } else {
+            static_assert(false, "UNSUPPORTED VALUE TYPE!!!");
+        }
+
+
+        return snplib_deserializer_error_e::ERROR_OK;
+    }
+};
+
+
+
+}  // end of namespace snplib
diff --git a/include/snipplib/utils/snplib_string.h b/include/snipplib/utils/snplib_string.h
index f5d552d..3c0b1fe 100644
--- a/include/snipplib/utils/snplib_string.h
+++ b/include/snipplib/utils/snplib_string.h
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@
 
 #include "../concepts/snplib_concepts.h"
 
-namespace snplib {
+namespace snplib
+{
 
 constexpr static bool snplib_is_space(char in) noexcept
 {
@@ -17,32 +18,37 @@ constexpr static bool snplib_is_space(char in) noexcept
 enum class TrimType { TRIM_LEFT, TRIM_RIGHT, TRIM_BOTH };
 
 template <snplib_output_char_range_c OR, snplib_input_char_range_c R, typename IsSpaceFuncT = decltype(snplib_is_space)>
-constexpr static OR snplib_trim_spaces(R&& r, TrimType type = TrimType::TRIM_BOTH, IsSpaceFuncT&& is_space_func = snplib_is_space)
+constexpr static OR snplib_trim_spaces(R&& r,
+                                       TrimType type = TrimType::TRIM_BOTH,
+                                       IsSpaceFuncT&& is_space_func = snplib_is_space)
 {
     if (type == TrimType::TRIM_LEFT) {
         auto res = r | std::views::drop_while(is_space_func);
         return OR{res.begin(), res.end()};
     } else if (type == TrimType::TRIM_RIGHT) {
-        auto res =  r | std::views::reverse | std::views::drop_while(is_space_func) |
-            std::views::reverse;
+        auto res = r | std::views::reverse | std::views::drop_while(is_space_func) | std::views::reverse;
         return OR{res.begin(), res.end()};
     } else if (type == TrimType::TRIM_BOTH) {
-        auto res =  r | std::views::drop_while(is_space_func) | std::views::reverse | std::views::drop_while(is_space_func) |
-            std::views::reverse;
+        auto res = r | std::views::drop_while(is_space_func) | std::views::reverse |
+                   std::views::drop_while(is_space_func) | std::views::reverse;
         return OR{res.begin(), res.end()};
-    } 
-    
-    return OR{};    
+    }
+
+    return OR{};
 }
 
 template <snplib_input_char_range_c R, typename IsSpaceFuncT = decltype(snplib_is_space)>
-constexpr static std::string snplib_trim_spaces(R&& r, TrimType type = TrimType::TRIM_BOTH, IsSpaceFuncT&& is_space_func = snplib_is_space)
+constexpr static std::string snplib_trim_spaces(R&& r,
+                                                TrimType type = TrimType::TRIM_BOTH,
+                                                IsSpaceFuncT&& is_space_func = snplib_is_space)
 {
     return snplib_trim_spaces<std::string>(std::forward<R>(r), type, std::forward<IsSpaceFuncT>(is_space_func));
 }
 
 template <snplib_input_char_range_c R, typename IsSpaceFuncT = decltype(snplib_is_space)>
-constexpr static std::string_view snplib_trim_spaces_as_view(R&& r, TrimType type = TrimType::TRIM_BOTH, IsSpaceFuncT&& is_space_func = snplib_is_space)
+constexpr static std::string_view snplib_trim_spaces_as_view(R&& r,
+                                                             TrimType type = TrimType::TRIM_BOTH,
+                                                             IsSpaceFuncT&& is_space_func = snplib_is_space)
     requires std::ranges::contiguous_range<R>
 {
     auto end = std::forward<R>(r).end();
@@ -74,4 +80,55 @@ constexpr static std::string_view snplib_trim_spaces_as_view(R&& r, TrimType typ
 }
 
 
-} // end of snplib namespace
\ No newline at end of file
+
+template <typename T, snplib_input_char_range_c R>
+static std::optional<T> snplib_num_from_range(R&& r)
+    requires((std::integral<T> || std::floating_point<T>) && std::ranges::contiguous_range<R>)
+{
+    T val;
+    const char* end_ptr = &*r.end();
+
+    if constexpr (std::integral<T>) {
+        auto cvt_res = std::from_chars(&*r.begin(), &*r.end(), val);
+        if (cvt_res.ec != std::errc()) {
+            return std::nullopt;
+        } else if (cvt_res.ptr != end_ptr) {
+            return std::nullopt;
+        }
+    } else {
+#ifdef _LIBCPP_VERSION  // clang's libc++ does not have floating-point overloads for std::from_chars
+        std::string s{str.begin(), str.end()};
+        size_t pos;
+
+        try {
+            if constexpr (std::same_as<T, float>) {
+                val = std::stof(s, &pos);
+            } else if constexpr (std::same_as<T, double>) {
+                val = std::stod(s, &pos);
+            } else {
+                val = std::stold(s, &pos);
+            }
+        } catch (...) {
+            return std::nullopt;
+        }
+
+        if (pos != s.size()) {
+            return std::nullopt;
+        }
+#else
+        auto cvt_res = std::from_chars(&*r.begin(), &*r.end(), val);
+
+        if (cvt_res.ec != std::errc()) {
+            return std::nullopt;
+        } else if (cvt_res.ptr != end_ptr) {
+            return std::nullopt;
+        }
+#endif
+    }
+
+    return val;
+}
+
+
+
+}  // namespace snplib
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/include/snipplib/utils/snplib_utils.h b/include/snipplib/utils/snplib_utils.h
index 3f59c93..632355b 100644
--- a/include/snipplib/utils/snplib_utils.h
+++ b/include/snipplib/utils/snplib_utils.h
@@ -1,2 +1,4 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include "snplib_hash.h"
+#include "snplib_string.h"
\ No newline at end of file