Method for create a copy of List<T>

Question

I created a method to return a copy of List<T>, basically I convert the List<T> into an array T[], then perform the copy with the arrayCopy(T[]) method and back convert again in List<T>.

I want to know if the code will be run successfully in different scenarios and it is good in performance or is there a way to do it better.

public static <T> List<T> getCopyOfList(List<T> list) {
    return Arrays.asList((T[]) arrayCopy(list.toArray()));
}

public static <T> T[] arrayCopy(final T[] original) {
    return Arrays.copyOf(original, original.length);
}

Answer 1

Given that arrayCopy has exactly one line, it's not clear that there's much value in having it extracted as a method.

toArray() is documented to return a safe array, so there is no need to copy it.

getCopyOfList returns a fixed-length list without documenting that fact. Clients may be surprised that optional List methods such as add() and remove() are not supported.

Why wouldn't clients prefer to use the copy constructors available on LinkedList and ArrayList? Those would allow clients to control the type of List they're working with, and the call is part of the public API.

Answer 2

Don't create Rube Goldberg machines. There is an easier way to accomplish what you want:

public static <T> List<T> getCopyOfList(List<T> list) {
    
    return new ArrayList<T>(list);
    
}