Copy Constructor in C++

[arrastogi71]

Hi,
What is meant by deep copy and shallow copy in case of copy constructor in C++?

[sicarie]

Hi,
What is meant by deep copy and shallow copy in case of copy constructor in C++?

The same as when just referring to an object, deep will make a copy of the object and its values, while shallow will return a reference to the memory location where the object being copied is at, and if any of the values are changed through one, they are thereby changed in the other as well.

[JosAH]

Here's an analogy: suppose I point my finger at my laptop; I own that laptop. Also
suppose you make a copy of me; my copy will point to that same laptop. That's
a shallow copy. Suppose when you make a copy of me you also make a copy of
everything I point to (or 'own'). My copy will point to its own copy of a laptop.
That's a deep copy. When my copy drops his laptop I still have mine. In the first
case (a shallow copy) neither my copy nor me have a laptop anymore when either
me or my copy drop the (single) laptop.

kind regards,

Jos