Thread: When would you need to use a copy constructor

Hello,

I am doing some reading on copy constructors. I know that the compiler will create a default copy constructor.

But what is the real reason that people use copy constructors? This is the code I have been working with. I understand the coding ok.

Code:

class Mammal
{
 public:
 Mammal():itsAge(1) { cout << “Mammal constructor...\n”; }
virtual ~Mammal() { cout << “Mammal destructor...\n”; }
 Mammal (const Mammal & rhs);
 virtual void Speak() const { cout << “Mammal speak!\n”; }
 virtual Mammal* Clone() { return new Mammal(*this); }
 int GetAge()const { return itsAge; }
 protected:
 int itsAge;
};

Many thanks,