std::string in a multi-threaded program

Question

Given that:

1) The C++03 standard does not address the existence of threads in any way

2) The C++03 standard leaves it up to implementations to decide whethe

Answer 1

I regulate the string access:

• make std::string members private
• return const std::string& for getters
• setters modify the member

This has always worked fine for me and is correct data hiding.