In this article, we will discuss how to clone a JavaScript object using different methods.
What is Cloning a JavaScript Object?
Cloning a JavaScript object is creating an exact copy of an object. The cloned object is a new object with the same properties and values as the original object. This process is helpful in many scenarios, such as creating a new instance of an object or making a copy of an object to modify it without changing the original object.
Why Clone a JavaScript Object?
There are many reasons why you should clone a JavaScript object. For example, if you have an object that you want to use as a template, you can clone the object to create a new instance that you can modify without affecting the original object. Another reason you might want to clone an object is if you want to modify an object but want to keep the original object the same. In this scenario, you can clone the object, modify the cloned object, and then replace the actual thing with the cloned object.
Methods to Clone a JavaScript Object
There are several methods to clone a JavaScript object in JavaScript. Some of the most common methods are:
Method 1: Object.assign()
The Object.assign() method is used to copy the values of all enumerable properties of one or more source objects to a target object. This method creates a shallow copy of the object, meaning that nested objects are not copied.
let originalObject = { name: 'John', age: 30 };
let clonedObject = Object.assign({}, originalObject);
Method 2: Spread Operator
The spread operator (...
) is a shorthand for calling Object.assign()
. It allows you to create a new object with the properties of an existing object. The spread operator creates a shallow copy of the object, meaning that nested objects are not copied.
let originalObject = { name: 'John', age: 30 };
let clonedObject = { ...originalObject };
Method 3: JSON.parse(JSON.stringify())
The JSON.parse(JSON.stringify()) method creates a deep copy of an object. This method serializes the object to a JSON string and then parses the JSON string back into a new object. In addition, this method creates a deep copy of the object, which means that any nested objects are also copied.
let originalObject = { name: 'John', age: 30 };
let clonedObject = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(originalObject));
Cloning a JavaScript object is a crucial task used in many scenarios. Whether you want to create a new instance of an object, modify an object without affecting the original object, or create a deep copy of an object, there are several methods available in JavaScript that you can use.
Thanks for reading. Happy coding!