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Mutable, Immutable, and Cloneable Objects

This document discusses mutable and immutable objects, cloning objects, and techniques for cloning different data structures. It covers: 1) Mutable objects can be modified after creation while immutable objects cannot be modified. Companion classes provide a way to alter immutable objects by creating corresponding mutable objects. 2) The Object class contains a clone method for copying objects, but it only performs a shallow copy. Classes must override clone to perform deep copies of nested objects. 3) Cloning objects before adding them to a data structure like a sorted list prevents external modification from disrupting the order. The data structure returns clones rather than the original objects.

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65 views26 pages

Mutable, Immutable, and Cloneable Objects

This document discusses mutable and immutable objects, cloning objects, and techniques for cloning different data structures. It covers: 1) Mutable objects can be modified after creation while immutable objects cannot be modified. Companion classes provide a way to alter immutable objects by creating corresponding mutable objects. 2) The Object class contains a clone method for copying objects, but it only performs a shallow copy. Classes must override clone to perform deep copies of nested objects. 3) Cloning objects before adding them to a data structure like a sorted list prevents external modification from disrupting the order. The data structure returns clones rather than the original objects.

Uploaded by

gitu583
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 26

Mutable, Immutable, and

Cloneable Objects
Chapter 15
Chapter Contents
Mutable and Immutable Objects
• Companion Classes
• Using Inheritance to Form Companion
Classes
Cloneable Objects
A Sorted List of Clones
Cloning an Array
Cloning a Chain
2
Mutable and Immutable Objects
A mutable object belongs to a class that
has mutator or set methods for its data
fields
The client uses set methods to change
values of the object's data fields

Fig. 15-1 An object and its reference variable chris


3
Mutable and Immutable Objects

Done
Doneby byexecuting
executing
chris.setLast
chris.setLast("Smith");
("Smith");

Fig. 15-2 An object in the list nameList (a) initially;


(b) after the reference variable chris is used to change it 4
Mutable and Immutable Objects

Immutable object belongs to a class that


does NOT have mutator or set methods
Class said to be read only
Placing immutable objects in a sorted list is
a way to prevent the client from destroying
the order of the list
Use an immutable object if it will be shared
Use a mutable object if its data will change
frequently
5
Companion Classes
If it is necessary to alter an immutable
object
• Can be accomplished by having a companion
class of corresponding mutable objects
Also helpful to have methods that convert
an object from one type to another

6
Companion Classes

Fig. 15-3 the classes Name and ImmutableName


7
Companion Classes
Java's String class is a read-only class
• Instances of String are immutable

Java provides a companion class,


StringBuffer
• Has a constructor that takes an instance of
String as an argument
• Has the toString method that converts a
mutable instance of StringBuffer to an
immutable instance of String
8
Companion Classes
Inheritance can be used to form companion
classes
Text shows declaration of ImmutableName
Then uses this to declare the derived class
Name
• Invokes protected methods of base class
• Adds mutator methods

It is best to derive the mutable class from


the immutable class
9
Companion Classes

Fig. 15-4 The class Name is derived from the


10
class ImmutableName
Cloneable Objects
A clone is a copy of an object
The Object class contains a protected
method clone that returns a copy of an
object
• The implementation of any method can invoke
clone
• Clients cannot invoke clone unless the class
overrides it, declares it public
public class MyClass implements Cloneable
{... 11
Cloneable Objects

Fig. 15-5 (a) A shallow clone; (b) a deep clone.


12
Cloneable Objects

Fig. 15-6 An instance of Name and its shallow clone.


13
Cloneable Objects

Fig. 15-7 A clone after one of its data fields is changed.


14
Cloneable Objects
A clone method for class Student that does
a deep copy
public Object clone()
{ try
{ Student theCopy = (Student)super.clone();
theCopy.fullName = (Name)fullName.clone();
return theCopy;
}
catch (CloneNotSupportedException e)
{ throw new Error(e.toString());
}
} // end clone

15
Cloneable Objects

Fig. 15-8 An instance of Student and its clone,


including a deep copy of fullName. 16
Cloneable Objects

Fig. 15-9 A shallow copy of fullName.


17
Tasks for a clone Method
Invoke the clone method of the
superclass with super.clone()
Enclose call to clone in a try block
Write a catch block to handle exception of
CloneNotSupportedException
• Skip if super.clone() invokes a public
clone method
Clone mutable data fields of object
super.clone() returned, when possible
Return the clone 18
A Sorted List of Clones
Recall problem of placing mutable objects
in an ADT (such as a sorted list)
If object is cloned before it is added to an
ADT
• Client could access/change the ADT's data
only by using ADT operations
• Requires that object added to the ADT be
Cloneable

19
A Sorted List of Clones

Fig. 15-10 An ADT and its client after the clone of an


object is added to the ADT.
20
A Sorted List of Clones

Fig. 15-11 The effect of getEntry if


it did not return a clone.
21
A Sorted List of Clones

Fig. 15-12 The effect of getEntry


when it does return a clone.
22
Cloning an Array
To make a deep clone of an array a of
cloneable objects
• The class must implement Cloneable
• Invoke a.clone()
• Clone each object in the array

Thing[ ] clonedArray = (Thing[ ])myArray.clone();


for (int index = 0; index < myArray.length; index++)
clonedArray[index] = (Thing)myArray[index].clone();

23
Cloning a Chain
The ADT list class must implement the
interface Cloneable

public class LList implements ListInterface, Cloneable


{
private Node firstNode; // reference to first node
private int length; // number of entries in list
...

24
Cloning a Chain

Fig. 15-13 A list that stores its data in a linked


25
chain and its shallow clone.
Cloning a Chain

Fig. 15-14 A list that stores its data in a linked


chain and its deep clone. 26

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