Clone() vs Copy constructor- which is recommended in java

java clone copy-constructor
Jothi picture Jothi · Mar 11, 2010 · Viewed 170.2k times · Source

clone method vs copy constructor in java. which one is correct solution. where to use each case?

Answer

Tom picture Tom · Mar 11, 2010

Clone is broken, so dont use it.

THE CLONE METHOD of the Object class is a somewhat magical method that does what no pure Java method could ever do: It produces an identical copy of its object. It has been present in the primordial Object superclass since the Beta-release days of the Java compiler*; and it, like all ancient magic, requires the appropriate incantation to prevent the spell from unexpectedly backfiring

Prefer a method that copies the object

Foo copyFoo (Foo foo){
  Foo f = new Foo();
  //for all properties in FOo
  f.set(foo.get());
  return f;
}

Read more http://adtmag.com/articles/2000/01/18/effective-javaeffective-cloning.aspx

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