Clone method for Java arrays

Question

What exactly does the clone() method in Java return when used on an array? Does it return a new array with data copied from the original?

Ex:

int[] a         


        

Answer 1

clone() method creates and returns a copy of this object. The precise meaning of "copy" may depend on the class of the object. The general intent is that, for any object x, the expression:

 x.clone() != x

Will be true, and that the expression:

 x.clone().getClass() == x.getClass()

Will be true, but these are not absolute requirements.

While it is typically the case that:

 x.clone().equals(x)

will be true, this is not an absolute requirement.

By convention, the returned object should be obtained by calling super.clone. If a class and all of its superclasses (except Object) obey this convention, it will be the case that x.clone().getClass() == x.getClass().