BACK
The java.lang.Object.clone() creates and returns a copy of this object
Example Program
import java.util.GregorianCalendar; public class Clone { public static void main(String[] args) throws CloneNotSupportedException { // create a gregorian calendar, which is an object GregorianCalendar cal = new GregorianCalendar(); // clone object cal into object x GregorianCalendar x = (GregorianCalendar) cal.clone(); // print both cal and x System.out.println("" + cal.getTime()); System.out.println("" + x.getTime()); } }
Output
Mon Sep 22 11:54:14 IST 2014
Mon Sep 22 11:54:14 IST 2014
Description
The java.lang.Object.clone() 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.
Declaration
Following is the declaration for java.lang.Object.clone() method
protected Object clone()
Parameters
- NA
Return Value
This method returns a clone of this instance.
Exception
- CloneNotSupportedException — if the object’s class does not support the Cloneable interface. Subclasses that override the clone method can also throw this exception to indicate that an instance cannot be cloned.
BACK