What is the difference between deep and shallow cloning?

What is the difference between deep and shallow cloning?

Deep cloning creates a complete copy of an object, including nested objects, while shallow cloning copies only the top-level properties.

Can you give me an example of each?

Sure! In JavaScript, a shallow clone can be made using Object.assign(), while a deep clone can be done with JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(obj)).

Are there any performance implications between the two?

Yes, deep cloning is generally slower and uses more memory because it copies all nested objects, while shallow cloning is faster.

When should I use deep cloning over shallow cloning?

Use deep cloning when you need to modify nested objects without affecting the original object. Use shallow cloning for simpler, flat objects.