title: What is the best way to determine if Object has been changed?
body: <p>I made some "save" bean functionality in my Java Web Application (JSF1.2, RichFaces). It is using JAXB to turn it into an XML string and then it is stored in the database. If the user loads this back, I want to notify the user if the (bean)content is changed and it should be saved again.</p>
  
  <p>My idea is to override the <code>hashCode()</code> function 'with' <code>org.apache.commons.lang.builder.HashCodeBuilder</code>, however I have lots of fields and child elements.
  Is there any other way to handle this kind of functionality?</p>
  
  <p><strong>EDIT</strong></p>
  
  <p>"Comparison" is done on another view!</p>
  
  <p>Any help would be appreciated!</p>