C++: returning by reference and copy constructors

Question

References in C++ are baffling me. :)

The basic idea is that I\'m trying to return an object from a function. I\'d like to do it without returning a pointer (because

Answer 1

Not a direct answer, but a viable suggestion: You could also return a pointer, wrapped in an auto_ptr or smart_ptr. Then you'll be in control of what constructors and destructors get called and when.