UIPastboard uses NSData to store data. Therefore, it is a deep copy.
From the official documentation for "setData: forPasteboardType:"
"Use this method to place raw data in a file cabinet. For example, you can archive a graph of model objects and transfer the result of an NSData object to the appropriate application through mapping using a custom cardboard type. (To place objects such as NSString, NSArray, NSDictionary, NSDate , NSNumber, UIImage, or NSURL objects on the file cabinet, use the setValue: forPasteboardType: method.) This method records the data for the first item in the file cabinet. Calling this method replaces any elements currently in the file cabinet. "
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