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The result of shallow copying one object to another [[variable]] is two variables pointing to the same physical object in memory.
In [[computing]], the result of shallow copying one object to another [[variable]] is two variables pointing to the same physical object in memory.


Thus changing the object pointed to by one of the variables will also cause the contents of the other variable to change (since the same object in memory is being altered).
Thus changing the object pointed to by one of the variables will also cause the contents of the other variable to change (since the same object in memory is being altered).

Revision as of 14:24, 21 March 2004

In computing, the result of shallow copying one object to another variable is two variables pointing to the same physical object in memory.

Thus changing the object pointed to by one of the variables will also cause the contents of the other variable to change (since the same object in memory is being altered).

Shallow copies are common when reference counting objects.

See also deep copy.