reference - Return the current object (*this) in C++? -

i have following code:

code 1

class student {      int no;      char grade[m+1];  public:      student() {          no = 0;          grade[0] = '\0';      }      void set(int n, const char* g) {          no = n;          strcpy(grade, g);       }      const student getobject() {          return *this;      }      void display() const {          cout << no << ", " << grade << endl;      }  }; 

code 2:

// no change code 1 const student& getobject() {          return *this;      } // no change code 1 

as book reading explains difference in getobject() of code 1 , 2 getobject() of code 2 returns reference current object, instead of copy (for efficiency reasons).

however, have tested (code 2) follows:

tested code:

student harry, harry1;     harry.set(123, "abcd");      harry1 = harry.getobject();     harry1.set(1111,"mmmmmm");     harry.display(); // line 1 => displayed: 123, abcd     harry1.display(); / line 2 => displayed: 1111, mmmmmm 

i dont it. if getobject() returns reference, line 1 in tested code should display 111, mmmmmm? because thought harry1 should contain address of harry object??? or misunderstanding something?

although harry.getobject() reference original object, ruin assignment:

harry1 = harry.getobject(); 

which performs copy.

instead:

student const& harry1 = harry.getobject();