diff --git a/include/LightGBM/bin.h b/include/LightGBM/bin.h
index 705d83f29e0c..a6199bbbcbd2 100644
--- a/include/LightGBM/bin.h
+++ b/include/LightGBM/bin.h
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ class BinMapper {
   * \brief Save binary data to file
   * \param file File want to write
   */
-  void SaveBinaryToFile(const VirtualFileWriter* writer) const;
+  void SaveBinaryToFile(BinaryWriter* writer) const;
 
   /*!
   * \brief Mapping bin into feature value
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ class Bin {
   * \brief Save binary data to file
   * \param file File want to write
   */
-  virtual void SaveBinaryToFile(const VirtualFileWriter* writer) const = 0;
+  virtual void SaveBinaryToFile(BinaryWriter* writer) const = 0;
 
   /*!
   * \brief Load from memory
diff --git a/include/LightGBM/c_api.h b/include/LightGBM/c_api.h
index 27fb0b620a07..bba46a02a492 100644
--- a/include/LightGBM/c_api.h
+++ b/include/LightGBM/c_api.h
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 typedef void* DatasetHandle;  /*!< \brief Handle of dataset. */
 typedef void* BoosterHandle;  /*!< \brief Handle of booster. */
 typedef void* FastConfigHandle; /*!< \brief Handle of FastConfig. */
+typedef void* ByteBufferHandle; /*!< \brief Handle of ByteBuffer. */
 
 #define C_API_DTYPE_FLOAT32 (0)  /*!< \brief float32 (single precision float). */
 #define C_API_DTYPE_FLOAT64 (1)  /*!< \brief float64 (double precision float). */
@@ -96,6 +97,22 @@ LIGHTGBM_C_EXPORT int LGBM_SampleIndices(int32_t num_total_row,
                                          void* out,
                                          int32_t* out_len);
 
+/*!
+ * \brief Get a ByteBuffer value at an index.
+ * \param handle Handle of byte buffer to be read
+ * \param index Index of value to return
+ * \param[out] out_val Byte value at index to return
+ * \return 0 when succeed, -1 when failure happens
+ */
+LIGHTGBM_C_EXPORT int LGBM_ByteBufferGetAt(ByteBufferHandle handle, int32_t index, uint8_t* out_val);
+
+/*!
+ * \brief Free space for byte buffer.
+ * \param handle Handle of byte buffer to be freed
+ * \return 0 when succeed, -1 when failure happens
+ */
+LIGHTGBM_C_EXPORT int LGBM_ByteBufferFree(ByteBufferHandle handle);
+
 /* --- start Dataset interface */
 
 /*!
@@ -164,6 +181,23 @@ LIGHTGBM_C_EXPORT int LGBM_DatasetInitStreaming(DatasetHandle dataset,
                                                 int32_t nthreads,
                                                 int32_t omp_max_threads);
 
+/*!
+ * \brief Allocate the space for dataset and bucket feature bins according to serialized reference dataset.
+ * \param ref_buffer A binary representation of the dataset schema (feature groups, bins, etc.)
+ * \param ref_buffer_size The size of the reference array in bytes
+ * \param num_row Number of total rows the dataset will contain
+ * \param num_classes Number of classes (will be used only in case of multiclass and specifying initial scores)
+ * \param parameters Additional parameters
+ * \param[out] out Created dataset
+ * \return 0 when succeed, -1 when failure happens
+ */
+LIGHTGBM_C_EXPORT int LGBM_DatasetCreateFromSerializedReference(const void* ref_buffer,
+                                                                int32_t ref_buffer_size,
+                                                                int64_t num_row,
+                                                                int32_t num_classes,
+                                                                const char* parameters,
+                                                                DatasetHandle* out);
+
 /*!
  * \brief Push data to existing dataset, if ``nrow + start_row == num_total_row``, will call ``dataset->FinishLoad``.
  * \param dataset Handle of dataset
@@ -464,6 +498,17 @@ LIGHTGBM_C_EXPORT int LGBM_DatasetFree(DatasetHandle handle);
 LIGHTGBM_C_EXPORT int LGBM_DatasetSaveBinary(DatasetHandle handle,
                                              const char* filename);
 
+/*!
+ * \brief Create a dataset schema representation as a binary byte array (excluding data).
+ * \param handle Handle of dataset
+ * \param[out] out The output byte array
+ * \param[out] out_len The length of the output byte array (returned for convenience)
+ * \return 0 when succeed, -1 when failure happens
+ */
+LIGHTGBM_C_EXPORT int LGBM_DatasetSerializeReferenceToBinary(DatasetHandle handle,
+                                                             ByteBufferHandle* out,
+                                                             int32_t* out_len);
+
 /*!
  * \brief Save dataset to text file, intended for debugging use only.
  * \param handle Handle of dataset
diff --git a/include/LightGBM/dataset.h b/include/LightGBM/dataset.h
index 97bc146c9a9e..79c4ed196b09 100644
--- a/include/LightGBM/dataset.h
+++ b/include/LightGBM/dataset.h
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <LightGBM/feature_group.h>
 #include <LightGBM/meta.h>
 #include <LightGBM/train_share_states.h>
+#include <LightGBM/utils/byte_buffer.h>
 #include <LightGBM/utils/openmp_wrapper.h>
 #include <LightGBM/utils/random.h>
 #include <LightGBM/utils/text_reader.h>
@@ -124,7 +125,7 @@ class Metadata {
   * \brief Save binary data to file
   * \param file File want to write
   */
-  void SaveBinaryToFile(const VirtualFileWriter* writer) const;
+  void SaveBinaryToFile(BinaryWriter* writer) const;
 
   /*!
   * \brief Get sizes in byte of this object
@@ -621,6 +622,11 @@ class Dataset {
   */
   LIGHTGBM_EXPORT void SaveBinaryFile(const char* bin_filename);
 
+  /*!
+   * \brief Serialize the overall Dataset definition/schema to a binary buffer (i.e., without data)
+   */
+  LIGHTGBM_EXPORT void SerializeReference(ByteBuffer* out);
+
   LIGHTGBM_EXPORT void DumpTextFile(const char* text_filename);
 
   LIGHTGBM_EXPORT void CopyFeatureMapperFrom(const Dataset* dataset);
@@ -919,6 +925,10 @@ class Dataset {
   #endif  // USE_CUDA
 
  private:
+  void SerializeHeader(BinaryWriter* serializer);
+
+  size_t GetSerializedHeaderSize();
+
   void CreateCUDAColumnData();
 
   std::string data_filename_;
@@ -938,8 +948,11 @@ class Dataset {
   int label_idx_ = 0;
   /*! \brief store feature names */
   std::vector<std::string> feature_names_;
-  /*! \brief store feature names */
+  /*! \brief serialized versions */
+  static const int kSerializedReferenceVersionLength;
+  static const char* serialized_reference_version;
   static const char* binary_file_token;
+  static const char* binary_serialized_reference_token;
   int num_groups_;
   std::vector<int> real_feature_idx_;
   std::vector<int> feature2group_;
diff --git a/include/LightGBM/dataset_loader.h b/include/LightGBM/dataset_loader.h
index 8b04e8327ff0..73b8e7bfd071 100644
--- a/include/LightGBM/dataset_loader.h
+++ b/include/LightGBM/dataset_loader.h
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ class DatasetLoader {
 
   LIGHTGBM_EXPORT Dataset* LoadFromFileAlignWithOtherDataset(const char* filename, const Dataset* train_data);
 
+  LIGHTGBM_EXPORT Dataset* LoadFromSerializedReference(const char* buffer, size_t buffer_size, data_size_t num_data, int32_t num_classes);
+
   LIGHTGBM_EXPORT Dataset* ConstructFromSampleData(double** sample_values,
                                                    int** sample_indices,
                                                    int num_col,
@@ -45,6 +47,8 @@ class DatasetLoader {
                                                         const std::unordered_set<int>& categorical_features);
 
  private:
+  void LoadHeaderFromMemory(Dataset* dataset, const char* buffer);
+
   Dataset* LoadFromBinFile(const char* data_filename, const char* bin_filename, int rank, int num_machines, int* num_global_data, std::vector<data_size_t>* used_data_indices);
 
   void SetHeader(const char* filename);
diff --git a/include/LightGBM/feature_group.h b/include/LightGBM/feature_group.h
index 0ddfd857bce1..003df70afad7 100644
--- a/include/LightGBM/feature_group.h
+++ b/include/LightGBM/feature_group.h
@@ -110,14 +110,56 @@ class FeatureGroup {
   }
 
   /*!
-   * \brief Constructor from memory
+   * \brief Constructor from memory when data is present
    * \param memory Pointer of memory
    * \param num_all_data Number of global data
    * \param local_used_indices Local used indices, empty means using all data
+   * \param group_id Id of group
    */
-  FeatureGroup(const void* memory, data_size_t num_all_data,
+  FeatureGroup(const void* memory,
+               data_size_t num_all_data,
                const std::vector<data_size_t>& local_used_indices,
                int group_id) {
+    // Load the definition schema first
+    const char* memory_ptr = LoadDefinitionFromMemory(memory, group_id);
+
+    // Allocate memory for the data
+    data_size_t num_data = num_all_data;
+    if (!local_used_indices.empty()) {
+      num_data = static_cast<data_size_t>(local_used_indices.size());
+    }
+    AllocateBins(num_data);
+
+    // Now load the actual data
+    if (is_multi_val_) {
+      for (int i = 0; i < num_feature_; ++i) {
+        multi_bin_data_[i]->LoadFromMemory(memory_ptr, local_used_indices);
+        memory_ptr += multi_bin_data_[i]->SizesInByte();
+      }
+    } else {
+      bin_data_->LoadFromMemory(memory_ptr, local_used_indices);
+    }
+  }
+
+  /*!
+   * \brief Constructor from definition in memory (without data)
+   * \param memory Pointer of memory
+   * \param local_used_indices Local used indices, empty means using all data
+   */
+  FeatureGroup(const void* memory, data_size_t num_data, int group_id) {
+    LoadDefinitionFromMemory(memory, group_id);
+    AllocateBins(num_data);
+  }
+
+  /*! \brief Destructor */
+  ~FeatureGroup() {}
+
+  /*!
+   * \brief Load the overall definition of the feature group from binary serialized data
+   * \param memory Pointer of memory
+   * \param group_id Id of group
+   */
+  const char* LoadDefinitionFromMemory(const void* memory, int group_id) {
     const char* memory_ptr = reinterpret_cast<const char*>(memory);
     // get is_sparse
     is_multi_val_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const bool*>(memory_ptr));
@@ -128,9 +170,9 @@ class FeatureGroup {
     memory_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(is_sparse_));
     num_feature_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const int*>(memory_ptr));
     memory_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(num_feature_));
-    // get bin mapper
-    bin_mappers_.clear();
 
+    // get bin mapper(s)
+    bin_mappers_.clear();
     for (int i = 0; i < num_feature_; ++i) {
       bin_mappers_.emplace_back(new BinMapper(memory_ptr));
       memory_ptr += bin_mappers_[i]->SizesInByte();
@@ -158,22 +200,23 @@ class FeatureGroup {
       num_total_bin_ += num_bin;
       bin_offsets_.emplace_back(num_total_bin_);
     }
-    data_size_t num_data = num_all_data;
-    if (!local_used_indices.empty()) {
-      num_data = static_cast<data_size_t>(local_used_indices.size());
-    }
+
+    return memory_ptr;
+  }
+
+  /*!
+   * \brief Allocate the bins
+   * \param num_all_data Number of global data
+   */
+  inline void AllocateBins(data_size_t num_data) {
     if (is_multi_val_) {
       for (int i = 0; i < num_feature_; ++i) {
         int addi = bin_mappers_[i]->GetMostFreqBin() == 0 ? 0 : 1;
         if (bin_mappers_[i]->sparse_rate() >= kSparseThreshold) {
-          multi_bin_data_.emplace_back(Bin::CreateSparseBin(
-              num_data, bin_mappers_[i]->num_bin() + addi));
+          multi_bin_data_.emplace_back(Bin::CreateSparseBin(num_data, bin_mappers_[i]->num_bin() + addi));
         } else {
-          multi_bin_data_.emplace_back(
-              Bin::CreateDenseBin(num_data, bin_mappers_[i]->num_bin() + addi));
+          multi_bin_data_.emplace_back(Bin::CreateDenseBin(num_data, bin_mappers_[i]->num_bin() + addi));
         }
-        multi_bin_data_.back()->LoadFromMemory(memory_ptr, local_used_indices);
-        memory_ptr += multi_bin_data_.back()->SizesInByte();
       }
     } else {
       if (is_sparse_) {
@@ -181,14 +224,9 @@ class FeatureGroup {
       } else {
         bin_data_.reset(Bin::CreateDenseBin(num_data, num_total_bin_));
       }
-      // get bin data
-      bin_data_->LoadFromMemory(memory_ptr, local_used_indices);
     }
   }
 
-  /*! \brief Destructor */
-  ~FeatureGroup() {}
-
   /*!
   * \brief Initialize for pushing in a streaming fashion.  By default, no action needed.
   * \param num_thread The number of external threads that will be calling the push APIs
@@ -414,10 +452,11 @@ class FeatureGroup {
   }
 
   /*!
-   * \brief Save binary data to file
-   * \param file File want to write
+   * \brief Write to binary stream
+   * \param writer Writer
+   * \param include_data Whether to write data (true) or just header information (false)
    */
-  void SaveBinaryToFile(const VirtualFileWriter* writer) const {
+  void SerializeToBinary(BinaryWriter* writer, bool include_data = true) const {
     writer->AlignedWrite(&is_multi_val_, sizeof(is_multi_val_));
     writer->AlignedWrite(&is_dense_multi_val_, sizeof(is_dense_multi_val_));
     writer->AlignedWrite(&is_sparse_, sizeof(is_sparse_));
@@ -425,19 +464,22 @@ class FeatureGroup {
     for (int i = 0; i < num_feature_; ++i) {
       bin_mappers_[i]->SaveBinaryToFile(writer);
     }
-    if (is_multi_val_) {
-      for (int i = 0; i < num_feature_; ++i) {
-        multi_bin_data_[i]->SaveBinaryToFile(writer);
+
+    if (include_data) {
+      if (is_multi_val_) {
+        for (int i = 0; i < num_feature_; ++i) {
+          multi_bin_data_[i]->SaveBinaryToFile(writer);
+        }
+      } else {
+        bin_data_->SaveBinaryToFile(writer);
       }
-    } else {
-      bin_data_->SaveBinaryToFile(writer);
     }
   }
 
   /*!
    * \brief Get sizes in byte of this object
    */
-  size_t SizesInByte() const {
+  size_t SizesInByte(bool include_data = true) const {
     size_t ret = VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(is_multi_val_)) +
                  VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(is_dense_multi_val_)) +
                  VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(is_sparse_)) +
@@ -445,11 +487,13 @@ class FeatureGroup {
     for (int i = 0; i < num_feature_; ++i) {
       ret += bin_mappers_[i]->SizesInByte();
     }
-    if (!is_multi_val_) {
-      ret += bin_data_->SizesInByte();
-    } else {
-      for (int i = 0; i < num_feature_; ++i) {
-        ret += multi_bin_data_[i]->SizesInByte();
+    if (include_data) {
+      if (!is_multi_val_) {
+        ret += bin_data_->SizesInByte();
+      } else {
+        for (int i = 0; i < num_feature_; ++i) {
+          ret += multi_bin_data_[i]->SizesInByte();
+        }
       }
     }
     return ret;
diff --git a/include/LightGBM/utils/binary_writer.h b/include/LightGBM/utils/binary_writer.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..5b7604b52807
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/LightGBM/utils/binary_writer.h
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+/*!
+ * Copyright (c) 2022 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
+ * Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in the project root for license information.
+ */
+#ifndef LIGHTGBM_UTILS_BINARY_WRITER_H_
+#define LIGHTGBM_UTILS_BINARY_WRITER_H_
+
+#include <cstdlib>
+#include <vector>
+
+namespace LightGBM {
+
+/*!
+  * \brief An interface for serializing binary data to a buffer
+  */
+struct BinaryWriter {
+  /*!
+    * \brief Append data to this binary target
+    * \param data Buffer to write from
+    * \param bytes Number of bytes to write from buffer
+    * \return Number of bytes written
+    */
+  virtual size_t Write(const void* data, size_t bytes) = 0;
+
+  /*!
+    * \brief Append data to this binary target aligned on a given byte size boundary
+    * \param data Buffer to write from
+    * \param bytes Number of bytes to write from buffer
+    * \param alignment The size of bytes to align to in whole increments
+    * \return Number of bytes written
+    */
+  size_t AlignedWrite(const void* data, size_t bytes, size_t alignment = 8) {
+    auto ret = Write(data, bytes);
+    if (bytes % alignment != 0) {
+      size_t padding = AlignedSize(bytes, alignment) - bytes;
+      std::vector<char> tmp(padding, 0);
+      ret += Write(tmp.data(), padding);
+    }
+    return ret;
+  }
+
+  /*!
+    * \brief The aligned size of a buffer length.
+    * \param bytes The number of bytes in a buffer
+    * \param alignment The size of bytes to align to in whole increments
+    * \return Number of aligned bytes
+    */
+  static size_t AlignedSize(size_t bytes, size_t alignment = 8) {
+    if (bytes % alignment == 0) {
+      return bytes;
+    } else {
+      return bytes / alignment * alignment + alignment;
+    }
+  }
+};
+}  // namespace LightGBM
+
+#endif   // LIGHTGBM_UTILS_BINARY_WRITER_H_
diff --git a/include/LightGBM/utils/byte_buffer.h b/include/LightGBM/utils/byte_buffer.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..86497dbc0969
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/LightGBM/utils/byte_buffer.h
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+/*!
+ * Copyright (c) 2022 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
+ * Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in the project root for license information.
+ */
+#ifndef LIGHTGBM_UTILS_BYTE_BUFFER_H_
+#define LIGHTGBM_UTILS_BYTE_BUFFER_H_
+
+#include <LightGBM/export.h>
+#include <LightGBM/utils/binary_writer.h>
+
+#include <string>
+#include <cstdio>
+#include <cstdlib>
+#include <cstring>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <memory>
+#include <vector>
+
+namespace LightGBM {
+
+/*!
+  * \brief An implementation for serializing binary data to an auto-expanding memory buffer
+  */
+struct ByteBuffer final : public BinaryWriter {
+  ByteBuffer() {}
+
+  explicit ByteBuffer(size_t initial_size) {
+    buffer_.reserve(initial_size);
+  }
+
+  size_t Write(const void* data, size_t bytes) {
+    const char* mem_ptr = static_cast<const char*>(data);
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < bytes; ++i) {
+      buffer_.push_back(mem_ptr[i]);
+    }
+
+    return bytes;
+  }
+
+  LIGHTGBM_EXPORT void Reserve(size_t capacity) {
+    buffer_.reserve(capacity);
+  }
+
+  LIGHTGBM_EXPORT size_t GetSize() {
+    return buffer_.size();
+  }
+
+  LIGHTGBM_EXPORT char GetAt(size_t index) {
+    return buffer_.at(index);
+  }
+
+  LIGHTGBM_EXPORT char* Data() {
+    return buffer_.data();
+  }
+
+ private:
+  std::vector<char> buffer_;
+};
+
+}  // namespace LightGBM
+
+#endif   // LightGBM_UTILS_BYTE_BUFFER_H_
diff --git a/include/LightGBM/utils/file_io.h b/include/LightGBM/utils/file_io.h
index 62ec3dbdc326..f59dda590bc1 100644
--- a/include/LightGBM/utils/file_io.h
+++ b/include/LightGBM/utils/file_io.h
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 #ifndef LIGHTGBM_UTILS_FILE_IO_H_
 #define LIGHTGBM_UTILS_FILE_IO_H_
 
+#include <LightGBM/utils/binary_writer.h>
+
 #include <string>
 #include <cstdio>
 #include <cstdlib>
@@ -18,50 +20,28 @@ namespace LightGBM {
 /*!
  * \brief An interface for writing files from buffers
  */
-struct VirtualFileWriter {
+struct VirtualFileWriter : BinaryWriter {
   virtual ~VirtualFileWriter() {}
+
   /*!
    * \brief Initialize the writer
    * \return True when the file is available for writes
    */
   virtual bool Init() = 0;
-  /*!
-   * \brief Append buffer to file
-   * \param data Buffer to write from
-   * \param bytes Number of bytes to write from buffer
-   * \return Number of bytes written
-   */
-  virtual size_t Write(const void* data, size_t bytes) const = 0;
 
-  size_t AlignedWrite(const void* data, size_t bytes, size_t alignment = 8) const {
-    auto ret = Write(data, bytes);
-    if (bytes % alignment != 0) {
-      size_t padding = AlignedSize(bytes, alignment) - bytes;
-      std::vector<char> tmp(padding, 0);
-      ret += Write(tmp.data(), padding);
-    }
-    return ret;
-  }
   /*!
    * \brief Create appropriate writer for filename
    * \param filename Filename of the data
    * \return File writer instance
    */
   static std::unique_ptr<VirtualFileWriter> Make(const std::string& filename);
+
   /*!
    * \brief Check filename existence
    * \param filename Filename of the data
    * \return True when the file exists
    */
   static bool Exists(const std::string& filename);
-
-  static size_t AlignedSize(size_t bytes, size_t alignment = 8) {
-    if (bytes % alignment == 0) {
-      return bytes;
-    } else {
-      return bytes / alignment * alignment + alignment;
-    }
-  }
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/c_api.cpp b/src/c_api.cpp
index 004a1f230c74..442247d7a9dd 100644
--- a/src/c_api.cpp
+++ b/src/c_api.cpp
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include <LightGBM/network.h>
 #include <LightGBM/objective_function.h>
 #include <LightGBM/prediction_early_stop.h>
+#include <LightGBM/utils/byte_buffer.h>
 #include <LightGBM/utils/common.h>
 #include <LightGBM/utils/log.h>
 #include <LightGBM/utils/openmp_wrapper.h>
@@ -951,6 +952,19 @@ int LGBM_SampleIndices(int32_t num_total_row,
   API_END();
 }
 
+int LGBM_ByteBufferGetAt(ByteBufferHandle handle, int32_t index, uint8_t* out_val) {
+  API_BEGIN();
+  LightGBM::ByteBuffer* byteBuffer = reinterpret_cast<LightGBM::ByteBuffer*>(handle);
+  *out_val = byteBuffer->GetAt(index);
+  API_END();
+}
+
+int LGBM_ByteBufferFree(ByteBufferHandle handle) {
+  API_BEGIN();
+  delete reinterpret_cast<LightGBM::ByteBuffer*>(handle);
+  API_END();
+}
+
 int LGBM_DatasetCreateFromFile(const char* filename,
                                const char* parameters,
                                const DatasetHandle reference,
@@ -1013,6 +1027,25 @@ int LGBM_DatasetCreateByReference(const DatasetHandle reference,
   API_END();
 }
 
+int LGBM_DatasetCreateFromSerializedReference(const void* ref_buffer,
+                                              int32_t ref_buffer_size,
+                                              int64_t num_row,
+                                              int32_t num_classes,
+                                              const char* parameters,
+                                              DatasetHandle* out) {
+  API_BEGIN();
+  auto param = Config::Str2Map(parameters);
+  Config config;
+  config.Set(param);
+  OMP_SET_NUM_THREADS(config.num_threads);
+  DatasetLoader loader(config, nullptr, 1, nullptr);
+  *out = loader.LoadFromSerializedReference(static_cast<const char*>(ref_buffer),
+    static_cast<size_t>(ref_buffer_size),
+    static_cast<data_size_t>(num_row),
+    num_classes);
+  API_END();
+}
+
 int LGBM_DatasetInitStreaming(DatasetHandle dataset,
                               int32_t has_weights,
                               int32_t has_init_scores,
@@ -1613,6 +1646,19 @@ int LGBM_DatasetSaveBinary(DatasetHandle handle,
   API_END();
 }
 
+int LGBM_DatasetSerializeReferenceToBinary(DatasetHandle handle,
+                                           ByteBufferHandle* out,
+                                           int32_t* out_len) {
+  API_BEGIN();
+  auto dataset = reinterpret_cast<Dataset*>(handle);
+  std::unique_ptr<LightGBM::ByteBuffer> ret;
+  ret.reset(new LightGBM::ByteBuffer());
+  dataset->SerializeReference(ret.get());
+  *out_len = static_cast<int32_t>(ret->GetSize());
+  *out = ret.release();
+  API_END();
+}
+
 int LGBM_DatasetDumpText(DatasetHandle handle,
                          const char* filename) {
   API_BEGIN();
diff --git a/src/io/bin.cpp b/src/io/bin.cpp
index 652b874c94d8..30da15d81053 100644
--- a/src/io/bin.cpp
+++ b/src/io/bin.cpp
@@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ namespace LightGBM {
     }
   }
 
-  void BinMapper::SaveBinaryToFile(const VirtualFileWriter* writer) const {
+  void BinMapper::SaveBinaryToFile(BinaryWriter* writer) const {
     writer->AlignedWrite(&num_bin_, sizeof(num_bin_));
     writer->AlignedWrite(&missing_type_, sizeof(missing_type_));
     writer->AlignedWrite(&is_trivial_, sizeof(is_trivial_));
diff --git a/src/io/dataset.cpp b/src/io/dataset.cpp
index de368d3036db..a8f449d3f55b 100644
--- a/src/io/dataset.cpp
+++ b/src/io/dataset.cpp
@@ -19,8 +19,13 @@
 
 namespace LightGBM {
 
+const int Dataset::kSerializedReferenceVersionLength = 2;
+const char* Dataset::serialized_reference_version = "v1";
+
 const char* Dataset::binary_file_token =
     "______LightGBM_Binary_File_Token______\n";
+const char* Dataset::binary_serialized_reference_token =
+    "______LightGBM_Binary_Serialized_Token______\n";
 
 Dataset::Dataset() {
   data_filename_ = "noname";
@@ -994,80 +999,9 @@ void Dataset::SaveBinaryFile(const char* bin_filename) {
     Log::Info("Saving data to binary file %s", bin_filename);
     size_t size_of_token = std::strlen(binary_file_token);
     writer->AlignedWrite(binary_file_token, size_of_token);
-    // get size of header
-    size_t size_of_header =
-        VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(num_data_)) +
-        VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(num_features_)) +
-        VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(num_total_features_)) +
-        VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int) * num_total_features_) +
-        VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(label_idx_)) +
-        VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(num_groups_)) +
-        3 * VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int) * num_features_) +
-        sizeof(uint64_t) * (num_groups_ + 1) +
-        2 * VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int) * num_groups_) +
-        VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int32_t) * num_total_features_) +
-        VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int)) * 3 +
-        VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(bool)) * 3;
-    // size of feature names
-    for (int i = 0; i < num_total_features_; ++i) {
-      size_of_header +=
-          VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(feature_names_[i].size()) +
-          VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int));
-    }
-    // size of forced bins
-    for (int i = 0; i < num_total_features_; ++i) {
-      size_of_header += forced_bin_bounds_[i].size() * sizeof(double) +
-                        VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int));
-    }
-    writer->Write(&size_of_header, sizeof(size_of_header));
-    // write header
-    writer->AlignedWrite(&num_data_, sizeof(num_data_));
-    writer->AlignedWrite(&num_features_, sizeof(num_features_));
-    writer->AlignedWrite(&num_total_features_, sizeof(num_total_features_));
-    writer->AlignedWrite(&label_idx_, sizeof(label_idx_));
-    writer->AlignedWrite(&max_bin_, sizeof(max_bin_));
-    writer->AlignedWrite(&bin_construct_sample_cnt_,
-                         sizeof(bin_construct_sample_cnt_));
-    writer->AlignedWrite(&min_data_in_bin_, sizeof(min_data_in_bin_));
-    writer->AlignedWrite(&use_missing_, sizeof(use_missing_));
-    writer->AlignedWrite(&zero_as_missing_, sizeof(zero_as_missing_));
-    writer->AlignedWrite(&has_raw_, sizeof(has_raw_));
-    writer->AlignedWrite(used_feature_map_.data(),
-                         sizeof(int) * num_total_features_);
-    writer->AlignedWrite(&num_groups_, sizeof(num_groups_));
-    writer->AlignedWrite(real_feature_idx_.data(), sizeof(int) * num_features_);
-    writer->AlignedWrite(feature2group_.data(), sizeof(int) * num_features_);
-    writer->AlignedWrite(feature2subfeature_.data(),
-                         sizeof(int) * num_features_);
-    writer->Write(group_bin_boundaries_.data(),
-                  sizeof(uint64_t) * (num_groups_ + 1));
-    writer->AlignedWrite(group_feature_start_.data(),
-                         sizeof(int) * num_groups_);
-    writer->AlignedWrite(group_feature_cnt_.data(), sizeof(int) * num_groups_);
-    if (max_bin_by_feature_.empty()) {
-      ArrayArgs<int32_t>::Assign(&max_bin_by_feature_, -1, num_total_features_);
-    }
-    writer->AlignedWrite(max_bin_by_feature_.data(),
-                  sizeof(int32_t) * num_total_features_);
-    if (ArrayArgs<int32_t>::CheckAll(max_bin_by_feature_, -1)) {
-      max_bin_by_feature_.clear();
-    }
-    // write feature names
-    for (int i = 0; i < num_total_features_; ++i) {
-      int str_len = static_cast<int>(feature_names_[i].size());
-      writer->AlignedWrite(&str_len, sizeof(int));
-      const char* c_str = feature_names_[i].c_str();
-      writer->AlignedWrite(c_str, sizeof(char) * str_len);
-    }
-    // write forced bins
-    for (int i = 0; i < num_total_features_; ++i) {
-      int num_bounds = static_cast<int>(forced_bin_bounds_[i].size());
-      writer->AlignedWrite(&num_bounds, sizeof(int));
 
-      for (size_t j = 0; j < forced_bin_bounds_[i].size(); ++j) {
-        writer->Write(&forced_bin_bounds_[i][j], sizeof(double));
-      }
-    }
+    // Write the basic header information for the dataset
+    SerializeHeader(writer.get());
 
     // get size of meta data
     size_t size_of_metadata = metadata_.SizesInByte();
@@ -1081,7 +1015,7 @@ void Dataset::SaveBinaryFile(const char* bin_filename) {
       size_t size_of_feature = feature_groups_[i]->SizesInByte();
       writer->Write(&size_of_feature, sizeof(size_of_feature));
       // write feature
-      feature_groups_[i]->SaveBinaryToFile(writer.get());
+      feature_groups_[i]->SerializeToBinary(writer.get());
     }
 
     // write raw data; use row-major order so we can read row-by-row
@@ -1098,6 +1032,117 @@ void Dataset::SaveBinaryFile(const char* bin_filename) {
   }
 }
 
+void Dataset::SerializeReference(ByteBuffer* buffer) {
+  Log::Info("Saving data reference to binary buffer");
+
+  // Calculate approximate size of output and reserve space
+  size_t size_of_token = std::strlen(binary_serialized_reference_token);
+  size_t initial_capacity = size_of_token + GetSerializedHeaderSize();
+  // write feature group definitions
+  for (int i = 0; i < num_groups_; ++i) {
+    initial_capacity += feature_groups_[i]->SizesInByte(/* include_data */ false);
+  }
+
+  // Give a little extra just in case, to avoid unnecessary resizes
+  buffer->Reserve(static_cast<size_t>(1.1 * static_cast<double>(initial_capacity)));
+
+  // Write token that marks the data as binary reference, and the version
+  buffer->AlignedWrite(binary_serialized_reference_token, size_of_token);
+  buffer->AlignedWrite(serialized_reference_version, kSerializedReferenceVersionLength);
+
+  // Write the basic definition of the overall dataset
+  SerializeHeader(buffer);
+
+  // write feature group definitions
+  for (int i = 0; i < num_groups_; ++i) {
+    // get size of feature
+    size_t size_of_feature = feature_groups_[i]->SizesInByte(false);
+    buffer->Write(&size_of_feature, sizeof(size_of_feature));
+    // write feature
+    feature_groups_[i]->SerializeToBinary(buffer, /* include_data */ false);
+  }
+}
+
+size_t Dataset::GetSerializedHeaderSize() {
+  size_t size_of_header =
+    VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(num_data_)) +
+    VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(num_features_)) +
+    VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(num_total_features_)) +
+    VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int) * num_total_features_) +
+    VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(label_idx_)) +
+    VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(num_groups_)) +
+    3 * VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int) * num_features_) +
+    sizeof(uint64_t) * (num_groups_ + 1) +
+    2 * VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int) * num_groups_) +
+    VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int32_t) * num_total_features_) +
+    VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int)) * 3 +
+    VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(bool)) * 3;
+  // size of feature names and forced bins
+  for (int i = 0; i < num_total_features_; ++i) {
+    size_of_header +=
+      VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(feature_names_[i].size()) +
+      VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int)) +
+      forced_bin_bounds_[i].size() * sizeof(double) +
+      VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int));
+  }
+
+  return size_of_header;
+}
+
+void Dataset::SerializeHeader(BinaryWriter* writer) {
+  size_t size_of_header = GetSerializedHeaderSize();
+  writer->Write(&size_of_header, sizeof(size_of_header));
+
+  // write header
+  writer->AlignedWrite(&num_data_, sizeof(num_data_));
+  writer->AlignedWrite(&num_features_, sizeof(num_features_));
+  writer->AlignedWrite(&num_total_features_, sizeof(num_total_features_));
+  writer->AlignedWrite(&label_idx_, sizeof(label_idx_));
+  writer->AlignedWrite(&max_bin_, sizeof(max_bin_));
+  writer->AlignedWrite(&bin_construct_sample_cnt_,
+    sizeof(bin_construct_sample_cnt_));
+  writer->AlignedWrite(&min_data_in_bin_, sizeof(min_data_in_bin_));
+  writer->AlignedWrite(&use_missing_, sizeof(use_missing_));
+  writer->AlignedWrite(&zero_as_missing_, sizeof(zero_as_missing_));
+  writer->AlignedWrite(&has_raw_, sizeof(has_raw_));
+  writer->AlignedWrite(used_feature_map_.data(),
+    sizeof(int) * num_total_features_);
+  writer->AlignedWrite(&num_groups_, sizeof(num_groups_));
+  writer->AlignedWrite(real_feature_idx_.data(), sizeof(int) * num_features_);
+  writer->AlignedWrite(feature2group_.data(), sizeof(int) * num_features_);
+  writer->AlignedWrite(feature2subfeature_.data(),
+    sizeof(int) * num_features_);
+  writer->Write(group_bin_boundaries_.data(),
+    sizeof(uint64_t) * (num_groups_ + 1));
+  writer->AlignedWrite(group_feature_start_.data(),
+    sizeof(int) * num_groups_);
+  writer->AlignedWrite(group_feature_cnt_.data(), sizeof(int) * num_groups_);
+  if (max_bin_by_feature_.empty()) {
+    ArrayArgs<int32_t>::Assign(&max_bin_by_feature_, -1, num_total_features_);
+  }
+  writer->AlignedWrite(max_bin_by_feature_.data(),
+    sizeof(int32_t) * num_total_features_);
+  if (ArrayArgs<int32_t>::CheckAll(max_bin_by_feature_, -1)) {
+    max_bin_by_feature_.clear();
+  }
+  // write feature names
+  for (int i = 0; i < num_total_features_; ++i) {
+    int str_len = static_cast<int>(feature_names_[i].size());
+    writer->AlignedWrite(&str_len, sizeof(int));
+    const char* c_str = feature_names_[i].c_str();
+    writer->AlignedWrite(c_str, sizeof(char) * str_len);
+  }
+  // write forced bins
+  for (int i = 0; i < num_total_features_; ++i) {
+    int num_bounds = static_cast<int>(forced_bin_bounds_[i].size());
+    writer->AlignedWrite(&num_bounds, sizeof(int));
+
+    for (size_t j = 0; j < forced_bin_bounds_[i].size(); ++j) {
+      writer->Write(&forced_bin_bounds_[i][j], sizeof(double));
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 void Dataset::DumpTextFile(const char* text_filename) {
   FILE* file = NULL;
 #if _MSC_VER
diff --git a/src/io/dataset_loader.cpp b/src/io/dataset_loader.cpp
index 621176db2c59..c0aa5e9d4eaf 100644
--- a/src/io/dataset_loader.cpp
+++ b/src/io/dataset_loader.cpp
@@ -353,6 +353,67 @@ Dataset* DatasetLoader::LoadFromFileAlignWithOtherDataset(const char* filename,
   return dataset.release();
 }
 
+Dataset* DatasetLoader::LoadFromSerializedReference(const char* binary_data, size_t buffer_size, data_size_t num_data, int32_t num_classes) {
+  auto dataset = std::unique_ptr<Dataset>(new Dataset(num_data));
+
+  auto mem_ptr = binary_data;
+
+  // check token
+  const size_t size_of_token = std::strlen(Dataset::binary_serialized_reference_token);
+  size_t size_of_token_in_input = VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(char) * size_of_token);
+  if (buffer_size < size_of_token_in_input) {
+    Log::Fatal("Binary definition file error: token has the wrong size");
+  }
+  if (std::string(mem_ptr, size_of_token) != std::string(Dataset::binary_serialized_reference_token)) {
+    Log::Fatal("Input file is not LightGBM binary reference file");
+  }
+  mem_ptr += size_of_token_in_input;
+
+  size_t size_of_version = VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(Dataset::kSerializedReferenceVersionLength);
+  std::string version(mem_ptr, Dataset::kSerializedReferenceVersionLength);
+  if (version != std::string(Dataset::serialized_reference_version)) {
+    Log::Fatal("Unexpected version of serialized binary data: %s", version.c_str());
+  }
+  mem_ptr += size_of_version;
+
+  size_t size_of_header = *(reinterpret_cast<const size_t*>(mem_ptr));
+  mem_ptr += sizeof(size_t);
+
+  LoadHeaderFromMemory(dataset.get(), mem_ptr);
+  dataset->num_data_ = num_data;  // update to the given num_data
+  mem_ptr += size_of_header;
+
+  // read feature group definitions
+  for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_groups_; ++i) {
+    // read feature size
+    const size_t size_of_feature = *(reinterpret_cast<const size_t*>(mem_ptr));
+    mem_ptr += sizeof(size_t);
+    dataset->feature_groups_.emplace_back(std::unique_ptr<FeatureGroup>(new FeatureGroup(mem_ptr, num_data, i)));
+    mem_ptr += size_of_feature;
+  }
+  dataset->feature_groups_.shrink_to_fit();
+
+  dataset->numeric_feature_map_ = std::vector<int>(dataset->num_features_, false);
+  dataset->num_numeric_features_ = 0;
+  for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_features_; ++i) {
+    if (dataset->FeatureBinMapper(i)->bin_type() == BinType::CategoricalBin) {
+      dataset->numeric_feature_map_[i] = -1;
+    } else {
+      dataset->numeric_feature_map_[i] = dataset->num_numeric_features_;
+      ++dataset->num_numeric_features_;
+    }
+  }
+
+  int has_weights = config_.weight_column.size() > 0;
+  int has_init_scores = num_classes > 0;
+  int has_queries = config_.group_column.size() > 0;
+  dataset->metadata_.Init(num_data, has_weights, has_init_scores, has_queries, num_classes);
+
+  Log::Info("Loaded reference dataset: %d features, %d num_data", dataset->num_features_, num_data);
+
+  return dataset.release();
+}
+
 Dataset* DatasetLoader::LoadFromBinFile(const char* data_filename, const char* bin_filename,
                                         int rank, int num_machines, int* num_global_data,
                                         std::vector<data_size_t>* used_data_indices) {
@@ -388,7 +449,7 @@ Dataset* DatasetLoader::LoadFromBinFile(const char* data_filename, const char* b
 
   size_t size_of_head = *(reinterpret_cast<size_t*>(buffer.data()));
 
-  // re-allocmate space if not enough
+  // re-allocate space if not enough
   if (size_of_head > buffer_size) {
     buffer_size = size_of_head;
     buffer.resize(buffer_size);
@@ -401,135 +462,7 @@ Dataset* DatasetLoader::LoadFromBinFile(const char* data_filename, const char* b
   }
   // get header
   const char* mem_ptr = buffer.data();
-  dataset->num_data_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const data_size_t*>(mem_ptr));
-  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->num_data_));
-  dataset->num_features_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr));
-  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->num_features_));
-  dataset->num_total_features_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr));
-  mem_ptr +=
-      VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->num_total_features_));
-  dataset->label_idx_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr));
-  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->label_idx_));
-  dataset->max_bin_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr));
-  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->max_bin_));
-  dataset->bin_construct_sample_cnt_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr));
-  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(
-      sizeof(dataset->bin_construct_sample_cnt_));
-  dataset->min_data_in_bin_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr));
-  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->min_data_in_bin_));
-  dataset->use_missing_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const bool*>(mem_ptr));
-  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->use_missing_));
-  dataset->zero_as_missing_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const bool*>(mem_ptr));
-  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->zero_as_missing_));
-  dataset->has_raw_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const bool*>(mem_ptr));
-  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->has_raw_));
-  const int* tmp_feature_map = reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr);
-  dataset->used_feature_map_.clear();
-  for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_total_features_; ++i) {
-    dataset->used_feature_map_.push_back(tmp_feature_map[i]);
-  }
-  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int) *
-                                            dataset->num_total_features_);
-  // num_groups
-  dataset->num_groups_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr));
-  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->num_groups_));
-  // real_feature_idx_
-  const int* tmp_ptr_real_feature_idx_ = reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr);
-  dataset->real_feature_idx_.clear();
-  for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_features_; ++i) {
-    dataset->real_feature_idx_.push_back(tmp_ptr_real_feature_idx_[i]);
-  }
-  mem_ptr +=
-      VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int) * dataset->num_features_);
-  // feature2group
-  const int* tmp_ptr_feature2group = reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr);
-  dataset->feature2group_.clear();
-  for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_features_; ++i) {
-    dataset->feature2group_.push_back(tmp_ptr_feature2group[i]);
-  }
-  mem_ptr +=
-      VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int) * dataset->num_features_);
-  // feature2subfeature
-  const int* tmp_ptr_feature2subfeature = reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr);
-  dataset->feature2subfeature_.clear();
-  for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_features_; ++i) {
-    dataset->feature2subfeature_.push_back(tmp_ptr_feature2subfeature[i]);
-  }
-  mem_ptr +=
-      VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int) * dataset->num_features_);
-  // group_bin_boundaries
-  const uint64_t* tmp_ptr_group_bin_boundaries = reinterpret_cast<const uint64_t*>(mem_ptr);
-  dataset->group_bin_boundaries_.clear();
-  for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_groups_ + 1; ++i) {
-    dataset->group_bin_boundaries_.push_back(tmp_ptr_group_bin_boundaries[i]);
-  }
-  mem_ptr += sizeof(uint64_t) * (dataset->num_groups_ + 1);
-
-  // group_feature_start_
-  const int* tmp_ptr_group_feature_start = reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr);
-  dataset->group_feature_start_.clear();
-  for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_groups_; ++i) {
-    dataset->group_feature_start_.push_back(tmp_ptr_group_feature_start[i]);
-  }
-  mem_ptr +=
-      VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int) * (dataset->num_groups_));
-
-  // group_feature_cnt_
-  const int* tmp_ptr_group_feature_cnt = reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr);
-  dataset->group_feature_cnt_.clear();
-  for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_groups_; ++i) {
-    dataset->group_feature_cnt_.push_back(tmp_ptr_group_feature_cnt[i]);
-  }
-  mem_ptr +=
-      VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int) * (dataset->num_groups_));
-
-  if (!config_.max_bin_by_feature.empty()) {
-    CHECK_EQ(static_cast<size_t>(dataset->num_total_features_), config_.max_bin_by_feature.size());
-    CHECK_GT(*(std::min_element(config_.max_bin_by_feature.begin(), config_.max_bin_by_feature.end())), 1);
-    dataset->max_bin_by_feature_.resize(dataset->num_total_features_);
-    dataset->max_bin_by_feature_.assign(config_.max_bin_by_feature.begin(), config_.max_bin_by_feature.end());
-  } else {
-    const int32_t* tmp_ptr_max_bin_by_feature = reinterpret_cast<const int32_t*>(mem_ptr);
-    dataset->max_bin_by_feature_.clear();
-    for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_total_features_; ++i) {
-      dataset->max_bin_by_feature_.push_back(tmp_ptr_max_bin_by_feature[i]);
-    }
-  }
-  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int32_t) *
-                                            (dataset->num_total_features_));
-  if (ArrayArgs<int32_t>::CheckAll(dataset->max_bin_by_feature_, -1)) {
-    dataset->max_bin_by_feature_.clear();
-  }
-
-  // get feature names
-  dataset->feature_names_.clear();
-  // write feature names
-  for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_total_features_; ++i) {
-    int str_len = *(reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr));
-    mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int));
-    std::stringstream str_buf;
-    auto tmp_arr = reinterpret_cast<const char*>(mem_ptr);
-    for (int j = 0; j < str_len; ++j) {
-      char tmp_char = tmp_arr[j];
-      str_buf << tmp_char;
-    }
-    mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(char) * str_len);
-    dataset->feature_names_.emplace_back(str_buf.str());
-  }
-  // get forced_bin_bounds_
-  dataset->forced_bin_bounds_ = std::vector<std::vector<double>>(dataset->num_total_features_, std::vector<double>());
-  for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_total_features_; ++i) {
-    int num_bounds = *(reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr));
-    mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int));
-    dataset->forced_bin_bounds_[i] = std::vector<double>();
-    const double* tmp_ptr_forced_bounds =
-        reinterpret_cast<const double*>(mem_ptr);
-    for (int j = 0; j < num_bounds; ++j) {
-      double bound = tmp_ptr_forced_bounds[j];
-      dataset->forced_bin_bounds_[i].push_back(bound);
-    }
-    mem_ptr += num_bounds * sizeof(double);
-  }
+  LoadHeaderFromMemory(dataset.get(), mem_ptr);
 
   // read size of meta data
   read_cnt = reader->Read(buffer.data(), sizeof(size_t));
@@ -821,6 +754,131 @@ Dataset* DatasetLoader::ConstructFromSampleData(double** sample_values,
 
 // ---- private functions ----
 
+void DatasetLoader::LoadHeaderFromMemory(Dataset* dataset, const char* buffer) {
+  // get header
+  const char* mem_ptr = buffer;
+  dataset->num_data_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const data_size_t*>(mem_ptr));
+  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->num_data_));
+  dataset->num_features_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr));
+  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->num_features_));
+  dataset->num_total_features_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr));
+  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->num_total_features_));
+  dataset->label_idx_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr));
+  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->label_idx_));
+  dataset->max_bin_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr));
+  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->max_bin_));
+  dataset->bin_construct_sample_cnt_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr));
+  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->bin_construct_sample_cnt_));
+  dataset->min_data_in_bin_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr));
+  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->min_data_in_bin_));
+  dataset->use_missing_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const bool*>(mem_ptr));
+  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->use_missing_));
+  dataset->zero_as_missing_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const bool*>(mem_ptr));
+  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->zero_as_missing_));
+  dataset->has_raw_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const bool*>(mem_ptr));
+
+  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->has_raw_));
+  const int* tmp_feature_map = reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr);
+  dataset->used_feature_map_.clear();
+  for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_total_features_; ++i) {
+    dataset->used_feature_map_.push_back(tmp_feature_map[i]);
+  }
+  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int) * dataset->num_total_features_);
+  // num_groups
+  dataset->num_groups_ = *(reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr));
+  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(dataset->num_groups_));
+  // real_feature_idx_
+  const int* tmp_ptr_real_feature_idx_ = reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr);
+  dataset->real_feature_idx_.clear();
+  for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_features_; ++i) {
+    dataset->real_feature_idx_.push_back(tmp_ptr_real_feature_idx_[i]);
+  }
+  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int) * dataset->num_features_);
+  // feature2group
+  const int* tmp_ptr_feature2group = reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr);
+  dataset->feature2group_.clear();
+  for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_features_; ++i) {
+    dataset->feature2group_.push_back(tmp_ptr_feature2group[i]);
+  }
+  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int) * dataset->num_features_);
+  // feature2subfeature
+  const int* tmp_ptr_feature2subfeature = reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr);
+  dataset->feature2subfeature_.clear();
+  for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_features_; ++i) {
+    dataset->feature2subfeature_.push_back(tmp_ptr_feature2subfeature[i]);
+  }
+  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int) * dataset->num_features_);
+  // group_bin_boundaries
+  const uint64_t* tmp_ptr_group_bin_boundaries = reinterpret_cast<const uint64_t*>(mem_ptr);
+  dataset->group_bin_boundaries_.clear();
+  for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_groups_ + 1; ++i) {
+    dataset->group_bin_boundaries_.push_back(tmp_ptr_group_bin_boundaries[i]);
+  }
+  mem_ptr += sizeof(uint64_t) * (dataset->num_groups_ + 1);
+
+  // group_feature_start_
+  const int* tmp_ptr_group_feature_start = reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr);
+  dataset->group_feature_start_.clear();
+  for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_groups_; ++i) {
+    dataset->group_feature_start_.push_back(tmp_ptr_group_feature_start[i]);
+  }
+  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int) * (dataset->num_groups_));
+
+  // group_feature_cnt_
+  const int* tmp_ptr_group_feature_cnt = reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr);
+  dataset->group_feature_cnt_.clear();
+  for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_groups_; ++i) {
+    dataset->group_feature_cnt_.push_back(tmp_ptr_group_feature_cnt[i]);
+  }
+  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int) * (dataset->num_groups_));
+
+  if (!config_.max_bin_by_feature.empty()) {
+    CHECK_EQ(static_cast<size_t>(dataset->num_total_features_), config_.max_bin_by_feature.size());
+    CHECK_GT(*(std::min_element(config_.max_bin_by_feature.begin(), config_.max_bin_by_feature.end())), 1);
+    dataset->max_bin_by_feature_.resize(dataset->num_total_features_);
+    dataset->max_bin_by_feature_.assign(config_.max_bin_by_feature.begin(), config_.max_bin_by_feature.end());
+  } else {
+    const int32_t* tmp_ptr_max_bin_by_feature = reinterpret_cast<const int32_t*>(mem_ptr);
+    dataset->max_bin_by_feature_.clear();
+    for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_total_features_; ++i) {
+      dataset->max_bin_by_feature_.push_back(tmp_ptr_max_bin_by_feature[i]);
+    }
+  }
+  mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int32_t) * (dataset->num_total_features_));
+  if (ArrayArgs<int32_t>::CheckAll(dataset->max_bin_by_feature_, -1)) {
+    dataset->max_bin_by_feature_.clear();
+  }
+
+  // get feature names
+  dataset->feature_names_.clear();
+  for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_total_features_; ++i) {
+    int str_len = *(reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr));
+    mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int));
+    std::stringstream str_buf;
+    auto tmp_arr = reinterpret_cast<const char*>(mem_ptr);
+    for (int j = 0; j < str_len; ++j) {
+      char tmp_char = tmp_arr[j];
+      str_buf << tmp_char;
+    }
+    mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(char) * str_len);
+    dataset->feature_names_.emplace_back(str_buf.str());
+  }
+  // get forced_bin_bounds_
+  dataset->forced_bin_bounds_ = std::vector<std::vector<double>>(dataset->num_total_features_, std::vector<double>());
+  for (int i = 0; i < dataset->num_total_features_; ++i) {
+    int num_bounds = *(reinterpret_cast<const int*>(mem_ptr));
+    mem_ptr += VirtualFileWriter::AlignedSize(sizeof(int));
+    dataset->forced_bin_bounds_[i] = std::vector<double>();
+    const double* tmp_ptr_forced_bounds =
+      reinterpret_cast<const double*>(mem_ptr);
+    for (int j = 0; j < num_bounds; ++j) {
+      double bound = tmp_ptr_forced_bounds[j];
+      dataset->forced_bin_bounds_[i].push_back(bound);
+    }
+    mem_ptr += num_bounds * sizeof(double);
+  }
+}
+
 void DatasetLoader::CheckDataset(const Dataset* dataset, bool is_load_from_binary) {
   if (dataset->num_data_ <= 0) {
     Log::Fatal("Data file %s is empty", dataset->data_filename_.c_str());
diff --git a/src/io/dense_bin.hpp b/src/io/dense_bin.hpp
index 0ebcdc1a6181..3d0f8db8e549 100644
--- a/src/io/dense_bin.hpp
+++ b/src/io/dense_bin.hpp
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ class DenseBin : public Bin {
     }
   }
 
-  void SaveBinaryToFile(const VirtualFileWriter* writer) const override {
+  void SaveBinaryToFile(BinaryWriter* writer) const override {
     writer->AlignedWrite(data_.data(), sizeof(VAL_T) * data_.size());
   }
 
diff --git a/src/io/file_io.cpp b/src/io/file_io.cpp
index a205964287e9..a2721e96c2dd 100644
--- a/src/io/file_io.cpp
+++ b/src/io/file_io.cpp
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ struct LocalFile : VirtualFileReader, VirtualFileWriter {
     return fread(buffer, 1, bytes, file_);
   }
 
-  size_t Write(const void* buffer, size_t bytes) const {
+  size_t Write(const void* buffer, size_t bytes) {
     return fwrite(buffer, bytes, 1, file_) == 1 ? bytes : 0;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/io/metadata.cpp b/src/io/metadata.cpp
index 07e9701b1ca6..2a589fa24ef8 100644
--- a/src/io/metadata.cpp
+++ b/src/io/metadata.cpp
@@ -675,7 +675,7 @@ void Metadata::LoadFromMemory(const void* memory) {
   CalculateQueryWeights();
 }
 
-void Metadata::SaveBinaryToFile(const VirtualFileWriter* writer) const {
+void Metadata::SaveBinaryToFile(BinaryWriter* writer) const {
   writer->AlignedWrite(&num_data_, sizeof(num_data_));
   writer->AlignedWrite(&num_weights_, sizeof(num_weights_));
   writer->AlignedWrite(&num_queries_, sizeof(num_queries_));
diff --git a/src/io/sparse_bin.hpp b/src/io/sparse_bin.hpp
index 79ebb25d08dd..e01c0afcf5bc 100644
--- a/src/io/sparse_bin.hpp
+++ b/src/io/sparse_bin.hpp
@@ -508,7 +508,7 @@ class SparseBin : public Bin {
     fast_index_.shrink_to_fit();
   }
 
-  void SaveBinaryToFile(const VirtualFileWriter* writer) const override {
+  void SaveBinaryToFile(BinaryWriter* writer) const override {
     writer->AlignedWrite(&num_vals_, sizeof(num_vals_));
     writer->AlignedWrite(deltas_.data(), sizeof(uint8_t) * (num_vals_ + 1));
     writer->AlignedWrite(vals_.data(), sizeof(VAL_T) * num_vals_);
diff --git a/tests/cpp_tests/test_byte_buffer.cpp b/tests/cpp_tests/test_byte_buffer.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..98df661ddd31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cpp_tests/test_byte_buffer.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+/*!
+ * Copyright (c) 2022 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
+ * Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in the project root for license information.
+ */
+
+#include <gtest/gtest.h>
+#include <LightGBM/utils/byte_buffer.h>
+
+#include <random>
+
+using LightGBM::ByteBuffer;
+
+
+TEST(ByteBuffer, JustWorks) {
+  std::unique_ptr<ByteBuffer> buffer;
+  buffer.reset(new ByteBuffer());
+
+  int cumulativeSize = 0;
+  EXPECT_EQ(cumulativeSize, buffer->GetSize());
+
+  int8_t int8Val = 34;
+  cumulativeSize += sizeof(int8_t);
+  buffer->Write(&int8Val, sizeof(int8_t));
+  EXPECT_EQ(cumulativeSize, buffer->GetSize());
+  EXPECT_EQ(int8Val, buffer->GetAt(cumulativeSize - 1));
+
+  int16_t int16Val = 33;
+  cumulativeSize += sizeof(int16_t);
+  buffer->Write(&int16Val, sizeof(int16_t));
+  EXPECT_EQ(cumulativeSize, buffer->GetSize());
+  int16_t serializedInt16 = 0;
+  char* int16Ptr = reinterpret_cast<char*>(&serializedInt16);
+  for (int i = 0; i < sizeof(int16_t); i++) {
+    int16Ptr[i] = buffer->GetAt(cumulativeSize - (sizeof(int16_t) - i));
+  }
+  EXPECT_EQ(int16Val, serializedInt16);
+
+  int64_t int64Val = 35;
+  cumulativeSize += sizeof(int64_t);
+  buffer->Write(&int64Val, sizeof(int64_t));
+  EXPECT_EQ(cumulativeSize, buffer->GetSize());
+  int64_t serializedInt64 = 0;
+  char* int64Ptr = reinterpret_cast<char*>(&serializedInt64);
+  for (int i = 0; i < sizeof(int64_t); i++) {
+    int64Ptr[i] = buffer->GetAt(cumulativeSize - (sizeof(int64_t) - i));
+  }
+  EXPECT_EQ(int64Val, serializedInt64);
+
+  double doubleVal = 36.6;
+  cumulativeSize += sizeof(double);
+  buffer->Write(&doubleVal, sizeof(doubleVal));
+  EXPECT_EQ(cumulativeSize, buffer->GetSize());
+  double serializedDouble = 0;
+  char* doublePtr = reinterpret_cast<char*>(&serializedDouble);
+  for (int i = 0; i < sizeof(double); i++) {
+    doublePtr[i] = buffer->GetAt(cumulativeSize - (sizeof(double) - i));
+  }
+  EXPECT_EQ(doubleVal, serializedDouble);
+
+  const int charSize = 3;
+  char charArrayVal[charSize] = { 'a', 'b', 'c' };
+  cumulativeSize += charSize;
+  buffer->Write(charArrayVal, charSize);
+  EXPECT_EQ(cumulativeSize, buffer->GetSize());
+  for (int i = 0; i < charSize; i++) {
+    EXPECT_EQ(charArrayVal[i], buffer->GetAt(cumulativeSize - (charSize - i)));
+  }
+
+  // Test that Data() points to first value written
+  EXPECT_EQ(int8Val, *buffer->Data());
+}
diff --git a/tests/cpp_tests/test_serialize.cpp b/tests/cpp_tests/test_serialize.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..7038f0d6ce9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cpp_tests/test_serialize.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+/*!
+ * Copyright (c) 2022 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
+ * Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in the project root for license information.
+ */
+
+#include <gtest/gtest.h>
+#include <testutils.h>
+#include <LightGBM/utils/byte_buffer.h>
+#include <LightGBM/utils/log.h>
+#include <LightGBM/c_api.h>
+#include <LightGBM/dataset.h>
+
+#include <iostream>
+
+using LightGBM::ByteBuffer;
+using LightGBM::Dataset;
+using LightGBM::Log;
+using LightGBM::TestUtils;
+
+TEST(Serialization, JustWorks) {
+  // Load some test data
+  DatasetHandle dataset_handle;
+  const char* params = "max_bin=15";
+  int result = TestUtils::LoadDatasetFromExamples("binary_classification/binary.test", params, &dataset_handle);
+  EXPECT_EQ(0, result) << "LoadDatasetFromExamples result code: " << result;
+
+  Dataset* dataset;
+  bool succeeded = true;
+  std::string exceptionText("");
+  try {
+    dataset = static_cast<Dataset*>(dataset_handle);
+
+    // Serialize the reference
+    ByteBufferHandle buffer_handle;
+    int32_t buffer_len;
+    result = LGBM_DatasetSerializeReferenceToBinary(dataset_handle, &buffer_handle, &buffer_len);
+    EXPECT_EQ(0, result) << "LGBM_DatasetSerializeReferenceToBinary result code: " << result;
+
+    ByteBuffer* buffer = nullptr;
+    Dataset* deserialized_dataset = nullptr;
+    try {
+      buffer = static_cast<ByteBuffer*>(buffer_handle);
+
+      // Deserialize the reference
+      DatasetHandle deserialized_dataset_handle;
+      result = LGBM_DatasetCreateFromSerializedReference(buffer->Data(),
+                                                         static_cast<int32_t>(buffer->GetSize()),
+                                                         dataset->num_data(),
+                                                         0,  // num_classes
+                                                         params,
+                                                         &deserialized_dataset_handle);
+      EXPECT_EQ(0, result) << "LGBM_DatasetCreateFromSerializedReference result code: " << result;
+
+      // Confirm 1 successful API call
+      deserialized_dataset = static_cast<Dataset*>(deserialized_dataset_handle);
+      EXPECT_EQ(dataset->num_data(), deserialized_dataset->num_data());
+    } catch (std::exception& ex) {
+      succeeded = false;
+      exceptionText = std::string(ex.what());
+    }
+
+    // Free memory
+    if (buffer) {
+      result = LGBM_ByteBufferFree(buffer);
+      EXPECT_EQ(0, result) << "LGBM_ByteBufferFree result code: " << result;
+    }
+    if (deserialized_dataset) {
+      result = LGBM_DatasetFree(deserialized_dataset);
+      EXPECT_EQ(0, result) << "LGBM_DatasetFree result code: " << result;
+    }
+  } catch (std::exception& ex) {
+    succeeded = false;
+    exceptionText = std::string(ex.what());
+  }
+
+  if (dataset) {
+    result = LGBM_DatasetFree(dataset);
+    EXPECT_EQ(0, result) << "LGBM_DatasetFree result code: " << result;
+  }
+
+  if (!succeeded) {
+    FAIL() << "Test Serialization failed with exception: " << exceptionText;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/windows/LightGBM.vcxproj b/windows/LightGBM.vcxproj
index 876ddda4cf64..342616d27daa 100644
--- a/windows/LightGBM.vcxproj
+++ b/windows/LightGBM.vcxproj
@@ -258,6 +258,8 @@
     <ClInclude Include="..\include\LightGBM\tree_learner.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="..\include\LightGBM\utils\yamc\alternate_shared_mutex.hpp" />
     <ClInclude Include="..\include\LightGBM\utils\array_args.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="..\include\LightGBM\utils\binary_writer.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="..\include\LightGBM\utils\byte_buffer.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="..\include\LightGBM\utils\common.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="..\include\LightGBM\utils\file_io.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="..\include\LightGBM\utils\json11.h" />
diff --git a/windows/LightGBM.vcxproj.filters b/windows/LightGBM.vcxproj.filters
index 56b4e29287d5..ed591fc4d87a 100644
--- a/windows/LightGBM.vcxproj.filters
+++ b/windows/LightGBM.vcxproj.filters
@@ -231,6 +231,12 @@
     <ClInclude Include="..\src\treelearner\linear_tree_learner.h">
       <Filter>src\treelearner</Filter>
     </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="..\include\LightGBM\utils\byte_buffer.h">
+      <Filter>include\LightGBM\utils</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="..\include\LightGBM\utils\binary_writer.h">
+      <Filter>include\LightGBM\utils</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
   </ItemGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
     <ClCompile Include="..\src\application\application.cpp">