Problem
I’m looking for a truly deep copy. This was simple in Java, but how do you do it in C#?
Asked by user18931
Solution #1
BinaryFormatter has been deprecated, and will no longer be available in .NET after November 2023. Obsoletion Strategy for BinaryFormatter
I’ve seen a few alternative techniques to this, but I like to use the following generic utility method:
public static T DeepClone<T>(this T obj)
{
using (var ms = new MemoryStream())
{
var formatter = new BinaryFormatter();
formatter.Serialize(ms, obj);
ms.Position = 0;
return (T) formatter.Deserialize(ms);
}
}
Notes:
Answered by Kilhoffer
Solution #2
I created a recursive “MemberwiseClone”-based deep object copy extension method. It works with any object and is three times faster than BinaryFormatter. A default constructor and serializable attributes aren’t required.
Source code:
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Reflection;
using System.ArrayExtensions;
namespace System
{
public static class ObjectExtensions
{
private static readonly MethodInfo CloneMethod = typeof(Object).GetMethod("MemberwiseClone", BindingFlags.NonPublic | BindingFlags.Instance);
public static bool IsPrimitive(this Type type)
{
if (type == typeof(String)) return true;
return (type.IsValueType & type.IsPrimitive);
}
public static Object Copy(this Object originalObject)
{
return InternalCopy(originalObject, new Dictionary<Object, Object>(new ReferenceEqualityComparer()));
}
private static Object InternalCopy(Object originalObject, IDictionary<Object, Object> visited)
{
if (originalObject == null) return null;
var typeToReflect = originalObject.GetType();
if (IsPrimitive(typeToReflect)) return originalObject;
if (visited.ContainsKey(originalObject)) return visited[originalObject];
if (typeof(Delegate).IsAssignableFrom(typeToReflect)) return null;
var cloneObject = CloneMethod.Invoke(originalObject, null);
if (typeToReflect.IsArray)
{
var arrayType = typeToReflect.GetElementType();
if (IsPrimitive(arrayType) == false)
{
Array clonedArray = (Array)cloneObject;
clonedArray.ForEach((array, indices) => array.SetValue(InternalCopy(clonedArray.GetValue(indices), visited), indices));
}
}
visited.Add(originalObject, cloneObject);
CopyFields(originalObject, visited, cloneObject, typeToReflect);
RecursiveCopyBaseTypePrivateFields(originalObject, visited, cloneObject, typeToReflect);
return cloneObject;
}
private static void RecursiveCopyBaseTypePrivateFields(object originalObject, IDictionary<object, object> visited, object cloneObject, Type typeToReflect)
{
if (typeToReflect.BaseType != null)
{
RecursiveCopyBaseTypePrivateFields(originalObject, visited, cloneObject, typeToReflect.BaseType);
CopyFields(originalObject, visited, cloneObject, typeToReflect.BaseType, BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.NonPublic, info => info.IsPrivate);
}
}
private static void CopyFields(object originalObject, IDictionary<object, object> visited, object cloneObject, Type typeToReflect, BindingFlags bindingFlags = BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.NonPublic | BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.FlattenHierarchy, Func<FieldInfo, bool> filter = null)
{
foreach (FieldInfo fieldInfo in typeToReflect.GetFields(bindingFlags))
{
if (filter != null && filter(fieldInfo) == false) continue;
if (IsPrimitive(fieldInfo.FieldType)) continue;
var originalFieldValue = fieldInfo.GetValue(originalObject);
var clonedFieldValue = InternalCopy(originalFieldValue, visited);
fieldInfo.SetValue(cloneObject, clonedFieldValue);
}
}
public static T Copy<T>(this T original)
{
return (T)Copy((Object)original);
}
}
public class ReferenceEqualityComparer : EqualityComparer<Object>
{
public override bool Equals(object x, object y)
{
return ReferenceEquals(x, y);
}
public override int GetHashCode(object obj)
{
if (obj == null) return 0;
return obj.GetHashCode();
}
}
namespace ArrayExtensions
{
public static class ArrayExtensions
{
public static void ForEach(this Array array, Action<Array, int[]> action)
{
if (array.LongLength == 0) return;
ArrayTraverse walker = new ArrayTraverse(array);
do action(array, walker.Position);
while (walker.Step());
}
}
internal class ArrayTraverse
{
public int[] Position;
private int[] maxLengths;
public ArrayTraverse(Array array)
{
maxLengths = new int[array.Rank];
for (int i = 0; i < array.Rank; ++i)
{
maxLengths[i] = array.GetLength(i) - 1;
}
Position = new int[array.Rank];
}
public bool Step()
{
for (int i = 0; i < Position.Length; ++i)
{
if (Position[i] < maxLengths[i])
{
Position[i]++;
for (int j = 0; j < i; j++)
{
Position[j] = 0;
}
return true;
}
}
return false;
}
}
}
}
Answered by Alex Burtsev
Solution #3
Using Kilhoffer’s solution as a foundation…
You can create an extension method in C# 3.0 by doing the following:
public static class ExtensionMethods
{
// Deep clone
public static T DeepClone<T>(this T a)
{
using (MemoryStream stream = new MemoryStream())
{
BinaryFormatter formatter = new BinaryFormatter();
formatter.Serialize(stream, a);
stream.Position = 0;
return (T) formatter.Deserialize(stream);
}
}
}
which adds a DeepClone method to any class that has been designated as [Serializable].
MyClass copy = obj.DeepClone();
Answered by Neil
Solution #4
To make a deep copy, utilize Nested MemberwiseClone. It’s practically as fast as cloning a value struct, and it’s a million times faster than (a) reflection or (b) serialization (as described in other answers on this page).
You must manually implement a ShallowCopy for each nested level in the class, as well as a DeepCopy that calls all said ShallowCopy methods to build a complete clone, if you use Nested MemberwiseClone for a deep copy. This is straightforward: there are just a few lines in total, as shown in the demo code below.
C++ is a programming language (but would have to run some equivalent benchmarks to check this claim).
Demo of shallow and deep copy, using classes and MemberwiseClone:
Create Bob
Bob.Age=30, Bob.Purchase.Description=Lamborghini
Clone Bob >> BobsSon
Adjust BobsSon details
BobsSon.Age=2, BobsSon.Purchase.Description=Toy car
Proof of deep copy: If BobsSon is a true clone, then adjusting BobsSon details will not affect Bob:
Bob.Age=30, Bob.Purchase.Description=Lamborghini
Elapsed time: 00:00:04.7795670,30000000
Demo of shallow and deep copy, using structs and value copying:
Create Bob
Bob.Age=30, Bob.Purchase.Description=Lamborghini
Clone Bob >> BobsSon
Adjust BobsSon details:
BobsSon.Age=2, BobsSon.Purchase.Description=Toy car
Proof of deep copy: If BobsSon is a true clone, then adjusting BobsSon details will not affect Bob:
Bob.Age=30, Bob.Purchase.Description=Lamborghini
Elapsed time: 00:00:01.0875454,30000000
Demo of deep copy, using class and serialize/deserialize:
Elapsed time: 00:00:39.9339425,30000000
Here’s a demo project to show you how to conduct a deep copy with MemberwiseCopy:
// Nested MemberwiseClone example.
// Added to demo how to deep copy a reference class.
[Serializable] // Not required if using MemberwiseClone, only used for speed comparison using serialization.
public class Person
{
public Person(int age, string description)
{
this.Age = age;
this.Purchase.Description = description;
}
[Serializable] // Not required if using MemberwiseClone
public class PurchaseType
{
public string Description;
public PurchaseType ShallowCopy()
{
return (PurchaseType)this.MemberwiseClone();
}
}
public PurchaseType Purchase = new PurchaseType();
public int Age;
// Add this if using nested MemberwiseClone.
// This is a class, which is a reference type, so cloning is more difficult.
public Person ShallowCopy()
{
return (Person)this.MemberwiseClone();
}
// Add this if using nested MemberwiseClone.
// This is a class, which is a reference type, so cloning is more difficult.
public Person DeepCopy()
{
// Clone the root ...
Person other = (Person) this.MemberwiseClone();
// ... then clone the nested class.
other.Purchase = this.Purchase.ShallowCopy();
return other;
}
}
// Added to demo how to copy a value struct (this is easy - a deep copy happens by default)
public struct PersonStruct
{
public PersonStruct(int age, string description)
{
this.Age = age;
this.Purchase.Description = description;
}
public struct PurchaseType
{
public string Description;
}
public PurchaseType Purchase;
public int Age;
// This is a struct, which is a value type, so everything is a clone by default.
public PersonStruct ShallowCopy()
{
return (PersonStruct)this;
}
// This is a struct, which is a value type, so everything is a clone by default.
public PersonStruct DeepCopy()
{
return (PersonStruct)this;
}
}
// Added only for a speed comparison.
public class MyDeepCopy
{
public static T DeepCopy<T>(T obj)
{
object result = null;
using (var ms = new MemoryStream())
{
var formatter = new BinaryFormatter();
formatter.Serialize(ms, obj);
ms.Position = 0;
result = (T)formatter.Deserialize(ms);
ms.Close();
}
return (T)result;
}
}
Then, from main, call the demo:
void MyMain(string[] args)
{
{
Console.Write("Demo of shallow and deep copy, using classes and MemberwiseCopy:\n");
var Bob = new Person(30, "Lamborghini");
Console.Write(" Create Bob\n");
Console.Write(" Bob.Age={0}, Bob.Purchase.Description={1}\n", Bob.Age, Bob.Purchase.Description);
Console.Write(" Clone Bob >> BobsSon\n");
var BobsSon = Bob.DeepCopy();
Console.Write(" Adjust BobsSon details\n");
BobsSon.Age = 2;
BobsSon.Purchase.Description = "Toy car";
Console.Write(" BobsSon.Age={0}, BobsSon.Purchase.Description={1}\n", BobsSon.Age, BobsSon.Purchase.Description);
Console.Write(" Proof of deep copy: If BobsSon is a true clone, then adjusting BobsSon details will not affect Bob:\n");
Console.Write(" Bob.Age={0}, Bob.Purchase.Description={1}\n", Bob.Age, Bob.Purchase.Description);
Debug.Assert(Bob.Age == 30);
Debug.Assert(Bob.Purchase.Description == "Lamborghini");
var sw = new Stopwatch();
sw.Start();
int total = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < 100000; i++)
{
var n = Bob.DeepCopy();
total += n.Age;
}
Console.Write(" Elapsed time: {0},{1}\n", sw.Elapsed, total);
}
{
Console.Write("Demo of shallow and deep copy, using structs:\n");
var Bob = new PersonStruct(30, "Lamborghini");
Console.Write(" Create Bob\n");
Console.Write(" Bob.Age={0}, Bob.Purchase.Description={1}\n", Bob.Age, Bob.Purchase.Description);
Console.Write(" Clone Bob >> BobsSon\n");
var BobsSon = Bob.DeepCopy();
Console.Write(" Adjust BobsSon details:\n");
BobsSon.Age = 2;
BobsSon.Purchase.Description = "Toy car";
Console.Write(" BobsSon.Age={0}, BobsSon.Purchase.Description={1}\n", BobsSon.Age, BobsSon.Purchase.Description);
Console.Write(" Proof of deep copy: If BobsSon is a true clone, then adjusting BobsSon details will not affect Bob:\n");
Console.Write(" Bob.Age={0}, Bob.Purchase.Description={1}\n", Bob.Age, Bob.Purchase.Description);
Debug.Assert(Bob.Age == 30);
Debug.Assert(Bob.Purchase.Description == "Lamborghini");
var sw = new Stopwatch();
sw.Start();
int total = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < 100000; i++)
{
var n = Bob.DeepCopy();
total += n.Age;
}
Console.Write(" Elapsed time: {0},{1}\n", sw.Elapsed, total);
}
{
Console.Write("Demo of deep copy, using class and serialize/deserialize:\n");
int total = 0;
var sw = new Stopwatch();
sw.Start();
var Bob = new Person(30, "Lamborghini");
for (int i = 0; i < 100000; i++)
{
var BobsSon = MyDeepCopy.DeepCopy<Person>(Bob);
total += BobsSon.Age;
}
Console.Write(" Elapsed time: {0},{1}\n", sw.Elapsed, total);
}
Console.ReadKey();
}
You must manually implement a ShallowCopy for each nested level in the class, as well as a DeepCopy that calls all said ShallowCopy methods to build a complete clone, if you use Nested MemberwiseClone for a deep copy. This is straightforward: there are just a few lines in total, as shown in the demo code above.
There is a significant difference between a “struct” and a “class” when it comes to cloning an object:
Update
To execute a deep copy, it’s presumably possible to utilize reflection to recursively travel over the object graph. This method is used by WCF to serialize an object and all of its children. The trick is to annotate all of the child objects with an attribute that makes it discoverable. You might lose some performance benefits, however.
Update
The following is a quote from an independent speed test (see notes below):
Answered by Contango
Solution #5
The BinaryFormatter approach, in my opinion, is pretty slow (which surprised me!). If your objects match ProtoBuf’s requirements, you might be able to use ProtoBuf.NET for them. The following is taken directly from the ProtoBuf Getting Started page (http://code.google.com/p/protobuf-net/wiki/GettingStarted):
Notes on the available types:
Custom classes that:
Around the chosen members, the code anticipates that types will be changeable. Custom structs are thus not supported because they should be immutable.
If your class fulfills these criteria, you might want to try:
public static void deepCopy<T>(ref T object2Copy, ref T objectCopy)
{
using (var stream = new MemoryStream())
{
Serializer.Serialize(stream, object2Copy);
stream.Position = 0;
objectCopy = Serializer.Deserialize<T>(stream);
}
}
That’s a lot of speed…
Edit:
This is the working code for modifying it (tested on .NET 4.6). System.Xml.Serialization and System.IO are used. There’s no need to make your classes serializable.
public void DeepCopy<T>(ref T object2Copy, ref T objectCopy)
{
using (var stream = new MemoryStream())
{
var serializer = new XS.XmlSerializer(typeof(T));
serializer.Serialize(stream, object2Copy);
stream.Position = 0;
objectCopy = (T)serializer.Deserialize(stream);
}
}
Answered by Kurt Richardson
Post is based on https://stackoverflow.com/questions/129389/how-do-you-do-a-deep-copy-of-an-object-in-net