Web APIs

JavaScript 02 Sep 2026 4 min read

Deep Cloning in JavaScript with structuredClone

Copying JavaScript objects looks simple until values contain nested arrays, dates, maps, sets, typed arrays, or circular references. A shallow spread copies only the first level, while the old JSON.stringify and JSON.parse pattern changes or rejects several legitimate JavaScript values. structuredClone provides a standard deep-cloning operation based on the structured clone algorithm used by browser messaging APIs. Shallow copies keep nested references A spread expression creates a new outer object:

JavaScript structuredClone

JavaScript 01 Sep 2026 3 min read

Use structuredClone for Safe Deep Copying in JavaScript

Copying JavaScript values is easy until nested objects, dates, maps, sets, binary data, or circular references appear. The common JSON round trip works only for a limited subset of values and silently changes some data. The built-in structuredClone() API provides a defined deep-cloning algorithm for many JavaScript data types. Spread syntax is only a shallow copy Object spread copies the first level: const original = { profile: { name: "Ada" } }; const copy = { ...original }; copy.profile.name = "Grace"; console.log(original.profile.name); // "Grace" Both objects still reference the same nested profile. Spread syntax is useful when shallow copying is intentional, but it is not a general deep-copy mechanism.

JavaScript Web APIs