title: PHP clone keyword
body: <blockquote>
    <p><strong>Possible Duplicate:</strong><br>
    <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2144506/what-is-object-cloning-in-php">what is Object Cloning in php?</a>  </p>
  </blockquote>
  
  
  
  <p>I am studying a existing framework which uses a "clone" keyword a lot, not sure whether this is a good idea to do this ? i dont really understand the need to use the 'clone' keyword. </p>
  
  <p>for example have look at this coding </p>
  
  <p>i.e </p>
  
  <pre><code>  public function getStartDate ()
    {
      return clone $this-&gt;startDate;
    }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>to me this function should be like below, i dont see the need of the clone.</p>
  
  <pre><code>  public function getStartDate ()
    {
      return $this-&gt;startDate;
    }
  </code></pre>