Final answer:
Shallow copies and deep copies are methods used to duplicate objects or data structures. Shallow copies create new objects that reference the same memory locations as the original, while deep copies create entirely new objects. Changes made to shared objects affect both shallow copies, but not deep copies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Shallow copies and deep copies are both methods used to duplicate objects or data structures in computer programming. The trade-offs and differences between them lie in how they handle references to shared objects or sub-objects.
A shallow copy creates a new object that references the same memory locations as the original object. This means that changes made to the shared objects will be reflected in both the original and the copy. In contrast, a deep copy creates an entirely new object with its own memory locations for all sub-objects. Changes made to the shared objects will not affect the original or the copy.
For example, consider an object A that contains a reference to an object B. When creating a shallow copy of A, the copy will also reference B. If B is modified, both A and the copy will reflect those changes. However, in a deep copy, a new object C will be created with its own copy of B. Modifying B will not affect A or C.