https://svn.boost.org/trac10/ticket/3222 <p> I am able to modify a const multi_array through a multi_array_ref. For example: </p> <p> const boost::multi_array&lt;int, 2&gt; myarray(boost::extents<a class="changeset" href="https://svn.boost.org/trac10/changeset/2" title="Add Boost Disclaimer">[2]</a><a class="changeset" href="https://svn.boost.org/trac10/changeset/2" title="Add Boost Disclaimer">[2]</a>); boost::multi_array_ref&lt;int, 2&gt; myarrayref(myarray); myarrayref<a class="missing changeset" title="No changeset 0 in the repository">[0]</a><a class="changeset" href="https://svn.boost.org/trac10/changeset/1" title="Import core sources for SVNmanger 0.38 ">[1]</a> = 2; </p> <p> IMO, trying to create a multi_array_ref from a const multi_array should fail to compile, only a const_multi_array_ref should work. Also, the reference doesn't include the public inheritance between multi_array, multi_array_ref, and const_multi_array in their class synopses. It is important because it seems to be the only reason you can do conversions from multi_array to multi_array_ref or const_multi_array_ref. </p> en-us /htdocs/site/boost.png https://svn.boost.org/trac10/ticket/3222 Trac 1.4.3