Does this copy the vector?

Question

If I have the following code, is the vector copied?

std::vector x = y.getTheVector();

or would it depend on whether the return t

Answer 1

std::vector x = y.getTheVector();

always makes a copy, regardless of the return type of y.getTheVector();.

std::vector& x = y.getTheVector();

would not make a copy. However, x will be valid as long as y.getTheVector() returns a reference to an object that is going to be valid after the function returns. If y.getTheVector() returns an object created in the function, x will point to an object that is no longer valid after the statement.