Hi -

What's the general contract/expectations for passing objects?  Is the method
receiving the reference expected to copy the object if it might modify it?

Let's say a method receives a buffer and needs to modify that buffer.  Is it
an okay practice to note in the javadoc that the caller needs to provide a
disposable data buffer?

reverseBuffer(capitalizeBuffer(padBuffer(someBuffer))) generates a lot of
waste if each method is expected to work with a scratch copy.

I know there's no language rules here.  But I'm curious how people handle
the issue.  Are there any guidelines?

Thank you,
Brian