code: @Override
  	public final String encode(Name<?> name) {
  		if(name==null) {
  			return null;
  		}
  		try {
  			Serializable target = prepare(name);
  			byte[] serializedData=SerializationUtils.serialize(target);
  			return BaseEncoding.base64().encode(serializedData);
  		} catch (IOException e) {
  			throw new AssertionError("Serialization should not fail",e);
  		}
  	}
docs: {@inheritDoc}