What does '&' mean in C++ when it comes before a method declaration

Question

For example, if a method is defined as the following:

  ILDCRTParams &GetParams() const;

Is this any different then:

 ILDCRTParams& GetParams() const;

I'm using C++ 11.

Answer 1

They are exactly the same. The return type is ILDCRTParams&