Make Copy of Object Without Reference To Original [duplicate]

Question

I have a function that takes an object from a list as a parameter. I create a new instance of this object and make it equal to the object passed into the function. I change some of the properties of the new object, but these changes also get applied to the original object in the list. Example:

public void myFunction(Object original)
{
    var copyOfObject = original;

    copyOfObject.SomeProperty = 'a';
}

From reading, I guess I am creating a shallow copy of my original object, so when I update the properties on my new object this causes the properties on the original to change to? I've seen some examples of copying the entire list of objects to create a deep copy, but I only want to create a deep copy of this single object and not the entire list. Can I do this without having to do:

  copyOfObject = new Object();
  copyOfObject.someProperty = original.someProperty;

before making my changes?

better you use copy constructor, that would be much in your control. — Amit
– Amit, Commented Mar 14, 2018 at 11:21
You can serialize and deserialize your object. You will get another object or implement Iclonable interface and use Clone method. — Buddhabhushan Kamble
– Buddhabhushan Kamble, Commented Mar 14, 2018 at 11:28
@BuddhabhushanKamble , serializing and de-serializing does have their own overheads. It is always debatable how fruitful it would be to afford this overhead when you have better ways to achieve the same purpose — Amit
– Amit, Commented Mar 14, 2018 at 11:37

Emre Kabaoglu · Accepted Answer · 2018-03-14 11:36:42Z

16

You could apply serialize-deserialize for the object to create deep copy.

public static class ObjectExtensions
{
    public static T Clone<T>(this T obj)
    {
        return (T)JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(JsonConvert.SerializeObject(obj));
    }
}

Then usage;

public void myFunction(Object original)
{
    var copyOfObject = original.Clone();
}

answered Mar 14, 2018 at 11:36

Emre Kabaoglu

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1 Comment

dylanh724 Over a year ago

using Newtonsoft.Json;

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