>You mean that it's not clear if copying the handle will copy the data or just create another reference? Exactly. In the STL, if it looks like a value copy it

>You mean that it's not clear if copying the handle will copy the data or just create another reference? Exactly. In the STL, if it looks like a value copy it is a value copy, but the handle pattern that Stroustrup prefers gives you no clue whatsoever as to what's going to happen. You have to figure it out one class at a time.