C++ Primer, Fifth Edition

7.1.5. Copy, Assignment, and Destruction

In addition to defining how objects of the class type are initialized, classes also control what happens when we copy, assign, or destroy objects of the class type. Objects are copied in several contexts, such as when we initialize a variable or when we pass or return an object by value (§ 6.2.1, p. 209, and § 6.3.2, p. 224). Objects are assigned when we use the assignment operator (§ 4.4, p. 144). Objects are destroyed when they cease to exist, such as when a local object is destroyed on exit from the block in which it was created (§ 6.1.1, p. 204). Objects stored in a vector (or an array) are destroyed ...