Comparing and copying objects via references

Reference types, Value types, and Patterns - slide 5 : 29

Do we compare references or the referenced objects?

Do we copy the reference or the referenced object?

How deep do we copy objects that reference other objects?

Comparing
- Reference comparison
  - Compares if two references refers to objects created by the same execution of new
- Shallow and deep comparison
  - Pair-wise comparison of fields - at varying levels
Copying:
- Reference copying
- Shallow or deep copying
  - Is also known as cloning
  - Somehow supported by the method MemberwiseClone in System.Object

An assignment of the form var = obj1 copies a reference

A comparison of the form obj1 == obj2 compares references (unless overloaded)