which is preferable method copy() or clone() in java

Question

I have a requirement where I need to generate Object from existed object. I am not able to select the which method is used either clone() or copy().

Situation is if user click the button say Copy/Clone I need to generate the new Employee object which is having existed Employee data.

Thanks in advance

There is no `copy()` method in `Object` class at all. – Codebender Jul 20 '15 at 06:23 — Codebender, Jul 20 '15 at 06:23
The best practices are contructor copy. – David Pérez Cabrera Jul 20 '15 at 06:26 — David Pérez Cabrera, Jul 20 '15 at 06:26

KAD · Answer 1 · 2015-07-20T06:51:10.570

Use the Clonable interface when defining the class, create a clone function with return type Object, this function shall throw CloneNotSupportedException and shall return the clone :

public class YourClass implements Cloneable{
    @Override
    protected Object clone() throws CloneNotSupportedException {
        return super.clone();
    }
}

and when you create the object, use the clone function as follows :

YourClass obj = new YourClass();
YourClass objCopy = (YourClass) obj.clone();

Here is a reference you can benefit from.

EDIT

You can also use copy constructor which is a better approach than clone :

class YourClass {
  private String dummy;

  public YourClass (YourClass another) {
    this.dummy = another.dummy; 
  }
}

Your call

YourClass class1 = new YourClass();
YourClass clone = new YourClass(class1);

I guess copy constructor shall resolve all of this.. – KAD Jul 20 '15 at 06:50 — KAD, Jul 20 '15 at 06:50

which is preferable method copy() or clone() in java

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