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();

Your first example does indeed copy the vector, regardless of whether the "getTheVector" function returns a vector or a reference to a vector.

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

In your second example, however, you are creating a reference, so the vector will NOT be copied.