C++: How do I make a copy of a char returned as reference?

Question

If I do

string someString = "hello";
char c = someString[2];

does the c variable refer to a character inside someString, or is it a new independent char on it's own?

If it is not independent, how do I copy it?

Answer 1

c is a copy. If you wrote

char &c = someString[2];

then it would have been a reference.

Answer 2

char c = someString[2];

copies the character at position 2 into 'c'

Answer 3

It's independent because c is not a reference type - it is char, not char &.

A consequent of it being a value type, a copy is thus performed.