What is the difference between deep copy and shallow copy?

What is the difference between deep copy and shallow copy?

A shallow copy creates a new object but inserts references into it to the objects found in the original. A deep copy creates a new object and recursively copies all objects found in the original.

Can you give me an example of each?

Sure! In Python, a shallow copy can be made using the copy() method, while a deep copy can be created using the copy.deepcopy() function.

What are the use cases for each?

Shallow copies are useful when you want to duplicate an object but still share some of its components. Deep copies are used when you need a completely independent copy.

Are there any performance implications?

Yes, deep copying can be more resource-intensive and slower than shallow copying, especially for large objects.