Difference between deep copy and shallow copy

Answer 1

deep copy ->
All values are being copied over.
I'm copying to a different object.
Hence the object itself is copied.

Shallow copy ->
The reference of the object is being copied to a different variable.

Since you never specified the language, this example will be with Java.
Example/

int[] array = {5,3,1};
// An array is an object

int[] temp = array;
// SHALLOW copy

temp[0] = 10;
// This changed the array 'array'.
// temp is pointing to the same array, so both are modified.

//DEEP COPY
int[] deep = new int[array.length];
for(int i = 0; i < deep.length; ++i)
deep[i] = array[i];

// All values were copied over, however this is a brand new array.
This means changing a value of the array 'deep' will not also change the value of the array 'array'.

Answer 2

Here is a good explanation on something other than a primitive type.

http://javaconceptoftheday.com/difference-between-shallow-copy-vs-deep-copy-in-java/