How to Clone a Generic List in Java?

How can I clone an ArrayList<String> in Java and cast the returned Object to ArrayList<String>?

ArrayList<String> originalList = new ArrayList<>();
originalList.add("Java");
originalList.add("Python");

ArrayList<String> clonedList = (ArrayList<String>) originalList.clone();

Cloning an ArrayList in Java involves using the clone() method, which is part of the java.util.List interface. This method returns a shallow copy of the list, which can be cast back to the appropriate list type. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do this.

ArrayList<String> originalList = new ArrayList<>();
originalList.add("Java");
originalList.add("Python");

ArrayList<String> clonedList = (ArrayList<String>) originalList.clone();

Causes

• Understanding the clone() method and its return type.
• Casting the Object type returned by clone() to your generic list type.

Solutions

• Use the clone() method to create a shallow copy of the ArrayList.
• Cast the returned Object to ArrayList<String> using appropriate syntax.

Mistake: Forgetting to cast the Object returned by the clone() method.

Solution: Always explicitly cast the cloned Object to the correct type.

Mistake: Assuming clone() creates a deep copy.

Solution: Remember that clone() performs a shallow copy; elements themselves are not cloned.