Answer by DEADFACE for What's the difference between passing by reference vs. passing by value?

Examples:

class Dog 
{ 
public:
    barkAt( const std::string& pOtherDog ); // const reference
    barkAt( std::string pOtherDog ); // value
};

const & is generally best. You don't incur the construction and destruction penalty. If the reference isn't const your interface is suggesting that it will change the passed in data.