What is the difference between shallow copy and deep copy in memory usage?

What is the difference between shallow copy and deep copy in memory usage?

A shallow copy creates a new object but inserts references into it to the objects found in the original. A deep copy, on the other hand, creates a new object and recursively adds copies of nested objects found in the original.

Can you give me an example of when to use each?

Sure! Use a shallow copy when you want to duplicate an object but don't need to modify nested objects. Use a deep copy when you need a complete, independent copy of an object and its nested structures.

What are the memory implications of using each?

Shallow copies are more memory efficient since they only copy references, while deep copies consume more memory as they duplicate all nested objects.

Are there any programming languages that handle this differently?

Yes, languages like Python have built-in functions for both shallow and deep copies, while others may require manual implementation.