What is the difference between shallow copy and deep copy?

What is the difference between shallow copy and deep copy?

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 copies all objects found in the original, resulting in a completely independent object.

Can you give me an example of each?

Sure! In Python, you can use the copy module. A shallow copy can be made with copy.copy(), while a deep copy is made with copy.deepcopy(). For instance, if you have a list of lists, a shallow copy will only copy the outer list, while a deep copy will copy both the outer and inner lists.

When should I use a deep copy instead of a shallow copy?

You should use a deep copy when you need to modify the copied object without affecting the original object. If the objects are nested and you want to ensure complete independence, deep copy is the way to go.

Are there any performance considerations between the two?

Yes, deep copies can be more resource-intensive and slower than shallow copies because they involve copying all nested objects. If performance is a concern and you don't need full independence, a shallow copy might be more efficient.