When you use the Array.Clone method of an array to make a copy of an array that contains instances of a reference type, you get a shallow copy–the new array references the same underlying objects as the original array.
A deep copy of an array is one in which you create a new copy of each element, so that the new array references different objects.
You can possibly make a deep copy if the element type has a Clone method.
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| // Shallow copy of the arrayPerson[] folks2 = (Person[])folks1.Clone();// Deep copy by calling Clone method on each elementPerson[] folks3 = new Person[folks1.Length];for (int i = 0; i < folks1.Length; i++) folks3[i] = (Person)folks1[i].Clone(); |
We’re now calling Clone on each element, rather than on the array itself.
This method doesn’t guarantee a deep copy, since there’s no guarantee that Person.Clone will give us a deep copy ofPerson.