Clone() vs. Copy Constructor in Java: Which Should You Use?

Comparing Clone() and Copy Constructor in Java

The question arises: which approach is more advisable in Java, the Clone() method or the copy constructor?

Answer:

The answer is clear: avoid using the Clone() method altogether. It is widely regarded as "broken," as it can result in unexpected behavior.

The Clone() method was introduced in Java to create an identical copy of an object. However, it suffers from several drawbacks:

• Incompatible Changes: Modifications made to the clone are not reflected in the original object.
• Protected Visibility: The Clone() method is protected, making it typically inaccessible to subclasses.
• Cloning of Objects: It doesn't handle cloning of objects that implement Cloneable.

Instead of using Clone(), it's recommended to implement a copy constructor that manually copies the fields of the object. Here's an example:

public Foo copyFoo (Foo foo) {
  Foo f = new Foo();
  // Copy all properties from the original object into the new one
  return f;
}

This method ensures that a new object with identical properties is created, avoiding the limitations of the Clone() method.

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