Copy of array - difference

What is the difference between these two ways of array copying and which way is better?

Code:

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        int[] array1 = new int[7];
        int[] array2;
        array2 = array1.clone();

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Code:

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        int[] array1 = new int[7];
        int[] array2 = new int[array1.length];
        System.arraycopy(array1, 0, array2, 0, array1.length);

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For one, System.arraycopy has been optimized for copying arrays and is significantly faster at copying items from one array to another. AFAIK, neither does a deep copy though.

Also have a look at the Arrays utility class; it has a bunch of copyOf( ... ) methods; I bet they are optimized for the job.

kind regards,

Jos

Can I say: Arrays class is specialized for dealing with reference values of many array types?