Difference between Value Object pattern and Data Transfer pattern

DTO is a class representing some data with no logic in it. DTO’s are usually used for transferring data between different applications or different layers within a single application. You can look at them as dumb bags of information the sole purpose of which is to just get this information to a recipient.

On the other hand, Value Object is a full member of your domain model. It conforms to the same rules as an Entity. The only difference between Value Object and Entity is that Value Object doesn’t have its own identity. It means that two Value Objects with the same property set should be considered the same whereas two Entities differ even if their properties match.

Value Objects do contain logic and, typically, they are not used for transferring data between application boundaries. Read more here

Value Object and Data Transfer Object are design pattern.

• Value Object : Use when need to measure the objects' equality based on the objects' value.

Real world example is java.time.LocalDate

public class HeroStat {

   // Stats for a hero

   private final int strength;
   private final int intelligence;
   private final int luck;

   // All constructors must be private.
   private HeroStat(int strength, int intelligence, int luck) {
    this.strength = strength;
    this.intelligence = intelligence;
    this.luck = luck;
   }

  // Static factory method to create new instances.
  public static HeroStat valueOf(int strength, int intelligence, int luck) {
    return new HeroStat(strength, intelligence, luck);
  }

  public int getStrength() {
     return strength;
  }

  public int getIntelligence() {
     return intelligence;
  }

  public int getLuck() {
     return luck;
  }

  /*
   * Recommended to provide a static factory method capable of creating an instance 
       from the formal
   * string representation declared like this. public static HeroStat parse(String 
     string) {}
   */

  // toString, hashCode, equals

  @Override
  public String toString() {
      return "HeroStat [strength=" + strength + ", intelligence=" + intelligence
    + ", luck=" + luck + "]";
  }

  @Override
  public int hashCode() {
     final int prime = 31;
     int result = 1;
     result = prime * result + intelligence;
     result = prime * result + luck;
     result = prime * result + strength;
     return result;
  }

  @Override
  public boolean equals(Object obj) {
       if (this == obj) {
          return true;
        }
       if (obj == null) {
          return false;
       }
       if (getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
          return false;
       }
       HeroStat other = (HeroStat) obj;
       if (intelligence != other.intelligence) {
          return false;
       }
       if (luck != other.luck) {
          return false;
       }
       if (strength != other.strength) {
          return false;
       }
          return true;
    }
    // The clone() method should not be public. Just don't override it.
  }

- Data Transfer Object : Pass data with multiple attributes in one shot from client to server, to avoid multiple calls to remote server.

  public class CustomerDto {
       private final String id;
       private final String firstName;
       private final String lastName;

       /**
        * @param id        customer id
        * @param firstName customer first name
        * @param lastName  customer last name
        */
        public CustomerDto(String id, String firstName, String lastName) {
           this.id = id;
           this.firstName = firstName;
           this.lastName = lastName;
        }

        public String getId() {
           return id;
        }

        public String getFirstName() {
           return firstName;
        }

        public String getLastName() {
           return lastName;
        }
     }