What distinguishes Copy from Clone?

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Copy and Clone are commonly used terms in the field of computer science, and they refer to two different methods of duplicating or reproducing an object or data. Here is how they differ:

1. Copy

• A copy is an exact replica of the original. It is a duplicate of the source object or data that is created using a copy method or operation.
• Copying does not affect the original object or data but creates a new object or data in memory that has the same value as the original.
• A copy operation is carried out when a user wants to create another instance of the same object or data with the same value.

1. Clone

• Cloning is similar to copying, but it creates a new object that is similar to the original, not an exact replica.
• Cloning involves creating a new object and initializing it with the same properties and data as the original object, but the new object has a different identity from the original.
• Cloning is useful when the original object is complex and cannot be copied directly, or when the user wants to modify the new object independently of the original.

In summary, Copy creates an exact replica, while Clone creates a new object that is similar to the original.