What is the difference between Clone and Copy

Clone creates a deep copy of the data, while Copy performs a shallow bitwise copy without moving ownership. Use Clone for types that manage heap memory like String, and Copy for simple types like integers that implement the Copy trait.

fn main() {
    let s1 = String::from("hello");
    let s2 = s1.clone(); // Deep copy: both s1 and s2 own separate data

    let x = 5;
    let y = x; // Shallow copy: x is copied, both x and y are valid

    println!("s1 = {s1}, s2 = {s2}");
    println!("x = {x}, y = {y}");
}

Clone makes a completely new, independent copy of complex data, like photocopying a document so you have two originals. Copy just duplicates simple values like numbers, similar to writing the same number on two different pieces of paper. You use Clone when you need two separate versions of something expensive, and Copy for cheap, simple values.