Golang (or Go language) is renowned for its efficiency and high performance. Among its strengths, structs are powerful tools for representing data. However, copying Golang structs can sometimes be confusing. In this article, we will introduce three or more basic methods for copying structs and provide clear explanations with code examples.
Methods for Copying Structs
Method 1: Simple Assignment
The most straightforward method is to use simple assignment. This method is applicable when the original struct and the target struct for copying have the same type.
package main
import "fmt"
type Person struct {
FirstName string
LastName string
}
func main() {
person1 := Person{"John", "Doe"}
var person2 Person
person2 = person1 // Struct copying
fmt.Println(person2)
}Method 2: Copying Using Pointers
You can also copy structs using pointers. This allows the original struct and the target struct to share the same memory.
package main
import "fmt"
type Person struct {
FirstName string
LastName string
}
func main() {
person1 := &Person{"John", "Doe"}
var person2 *Person
person2 = person1 // Copying using pointers
fmt.Println(*person2)
}Method 3: Copying Using the copy() Function
You can also copy structs using the copy() function. This method is useful when structs are within a slice, among other situations.
package main
import "fmt"
type Person struct {
FirstName string
LastName string
}
func main() {
person1 := Person{"John", "Doe"}
personSlice := []Person{person1}
var person2 Person
copy(personSlice, personSlice) // Copying using the `copy()` function
person2 = personSlice[0]
fmt.Println(person2)
}By using these methods, you can understand the basic ways to copy structs in Golang. Choose the appropriate method depending on your specific situation. Regardless of the method chosen, copying structs in Golang is a simple and efficient operation.
