What are common mistakes developers make with clone (and why to avoid it)?

Common mistakes developers make with the clone method in Java include false assumptions about object copying, improper use of the clone method without overriding, and neglecting to handle deep versus shallow copies. These mistakes can lead to unexpected behavior, bugs, and performance issues in applications.

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<?php class Person { public $name; public $age; public function __clone() { // Custom clone handling if needed } } $originalPerson = new Person(); $originalPerson->name = "John Doe"; $originalPerson->age = 30; // Mistake: Using clone without understanding shallow copy $clonedPerson = clone $originalPerson; // Both objects refer to separate instances, but if there are mutable types // (like arrays or objects in properties), changes in cloned object will affect the original. $clonedPerson->name = "Jane Doe"; echo $originalPerson->name; // Outputs "John Doe" echo $clonedPerson->name; // Outputs "Jane Doe" ?>

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