Java Copy Array | Java Array Clone Examples

Here is the situation, you have an Array and you want another copy of it to do manipulate the data of it. So to do it you need a Copy of the Array. In this tutorial, you will learn the “How Java Copy Array” example program.

Before start must read the – Array Initialization | Types with Examples Tutorial 

Let’s start Array copy in Java

• Iteration- Easy and correct
• Using Clone()
• Using System.arraycopy()
• Reference of an Array (Simple but Wrong)

Java Copy Array Examples

Let’s see one bye one example how to copy a array with different methods.

Iteration- Easy 

A doing Iteration is an easy way to copy an Array in Java. Each element copy at a time.

Here is the example used a Java for loop for an iteration. We are checking is both Array reference is same or not. It will not the same because the copyArray is different memory allocation and changing the value of it not reflect on Original Arrays.

public class CopyArrayExample {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int array[] = {9, 0, 3};

        // Create an copyArray, same length of Original array
        int copyArray[] = new int[array.length];

        // Copy elements of Array
        for (int i = 0; i < array.length; i++)
            copyArray[i] = array[i];

        System.out.println("Original Array ");
        for (int i = 0; i < array.length; i++)
            System.out.print(array[i] + " ");

        System.out.println("\nCopy of Array ");
        for (int i = 0; i < copyArray.length; i++)
            System.out.print(copyArray[i] + " ");

        //checking is both same
        System.out.println("\nIs same : " + (array == copyArray));
    }
}

Output: Original Array
9 0 3
Copy of Array
9 0 3
Is same: false

Using Clone()

So many Loop iteration on an upper example? Here is java can do much better with the clone() method. See the example How to  How to Java Clone Array Example.

public class CopyArrayExample {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int array[] = {1, 0, 4};

        //Creating and cloning Array
        int copyArray[] = array.clone();

        //Update value of copy array
        copyArray[0]++;

        System.out.println("Original Array ");
        for (int i = 0; i < array.length; i++)
            System.out.print(array[i] + " ");

        System.out.println("\nCopy of Array ");
        for (int i = 0; i < copyArray.length; i++)
            System.out.print(copyArray[i] + " ");

    }
}

Output: Original Array
1 0 4
Copy of Array
2 0 4

Using System.arraycopy()

If you want a subarray or few elements of an array to be copied in the new array can use this one way

System.arraycopy() Method is present in java.lang package.

• src – The Source Array,
• srcPos – is the index from which copying starts.
• dest – The Destination Array
• destPos – The index copied elements are placed in the destination array.
• length is the length of the subarray to be copied in another Array.

Check the below Java Array Clone example for better understanding.

public class CopyArrayExample {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int array[] = {1, 0, 2};

        // Create an copyArray[] same size of array[]
        int copyArray[] = new int[array.length];

        // Copy elements of array[] to copyArray[]
        System.arraycopy(array, 0, copyArray, 0, 3);


        System.out.println("array[] ");
        for (int i=0; i<array.length; i++)
            System.out.print(array[i] + " ");

        System.out.println("\ncopyArray[] ");
        for (int i=0; i<copyArray.length; i++)
            System.out.print(copyArray[i] + " ");
    }
}

Output: array[]
1 0 2copyArray[]
1 0 2

Reference of an Array (Simple but Wrong)

Using an Assignment operator will copy the only reference, which means both array variables will refer same memory and data. Here is an example of it and also check the both have the same reference or not.

this way is not Correct because changing the value of the array on anyone will reflect another one. Which is missing the object of the goal to get another copy to do some change without touching original data.

public class CopyArrayExample {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int array[] = {1, 0, 4};

        /// Create an array b[] of same size as a[]
        int copyArray[] = new int[array.length];

        // Doesn't copy elements of Array - refer to same location
        copyArray = array;
        System.out.println("Is same refer: " + (array == copyArray));
    }
}

Output: Is same refer: true

Do comment if you have any doubts and suggestions on this tutorial

Note: This example (Project) is developed in IntelliJ IDEA 2018.2.6 (Community Edition)
JRE: 11.0.1
JVM: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM by JetBrains s.r.o
macOS 10.14.1

Java version 11

All Java Copy Array | How to Java Clone Array Examples are in Java 11, so it may change its different from Java 9 or 10 or upgraded versions.