Reading some examples of range based loops they suggest two main ways 1, 2, 3, 4

std::vector<MyClass> vec;

for (auto &x : vec)
{
  // x is a reference to an item of vec
  // We can change vec's items by changing x 
}

or

for (auto x : vec)
{
  // Value of x is copied from an item of vec
  // We can not change vec's items by changing x
}

Well.

When we don’t need changing vec items, IMO, Examples suggest to use second version (by value). Why they don’t suggest something which const references (At least I have not found any direct suggestion):

for (auto const &x : vec) // <-- see const keyword
{
  // x is a reference to an const item of vec
  // We can not change vec's items by changing x 
}

Isn’t it better? Doesn’t it avoid a redundant copy in each iteration while it’s a const?

5 Answers
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