More on references

• References can be returned by functions.

• Why? To avoid copying overhead.

• Generally used to return one of function arguments.

•  DON'T return references to locals !  

  
      int& counter()
      {
          static int count = 0;
          ++count;
          return count;   // OK, count is static
      }
  
      int& disaster()
      {
          int count = calculate();
          return count;   // Oh, no!..
      }