hmm... All the C++ boffins will tell you to use the reference version because it's "safer", and that's their justification for just about everything to do with the language ;) Just remember that you can't reassign references and you can with pointers - this might nudge you towards the pointer version. Unless you have a fairly strange function, there is no performance gain from using one in particular. If you want to emulate the powers-that-be and go in the direction the C++ standards commitee have not-so-subtlely been trying to push us in, use the reference version. Be aware of the possiblity of unseen anonymous objects being created when you pass by reference (if you do indeed have to create a temporary const object) - obviously this isn't possible with pointers and prevents this bit of bloat. I go with references cos company's love to see them in your code. To be honest there's not much to gain from it, but try and stick to one in style. It also stops you having to stick &'s everywhere :)