rust armanriazi clone vs copy

Rust: clone vs copy

In Rust, the clone and copy traits are used to create copies of values. The main difference between them is how they handle ownership and borrowing.

The clone trait is used for types that can be explicitly cloned, creating a deep copy of the value. This means that a new instance of the value is created, and both the original and the clone can be used independently. The clone method is typically implemented for types that own resources or have complex internal structures.

On the other hand, the copy trait is used for types that can be implicitly copied, creating a shallow copy of the value. This means that the original value is simply duplicated, and both the original and the copy share the same resources. The copy trait is typically implemented for types that are simple and lightweight, such as integers and booleans.

To summarize: - The clone trait creates a deep copy of the value. - The copy trait creates a shallow copy of the value.

It's important to note that not all types can implement both traits. Some types can only implement clone, while others can only implement copy. The decision of which trait to implement depends on the specific requirements of the type.

I hope this clarifies the difference between clone and copy in Rust. Let me know if you have any further questions.