Also known (unofficially) as universal references. A forwarding reference is created with the syntax T&& where T is a template type parameter, or using auto&&. This enables perfect forwarding: the ability to pass arguments while maintaining their value category (e.g. lvalues stay as lvalues, temporaries are forwarded as rvalues).

Forwarding references allow a reference to bind to either an lvalue or rvalue depending on the type. Forwarding references follow the rules of reference collapsing:
* T& & becomes T&
* T& && becomes T&
* T&& & becomes T&
* T&& && becomes T&&

auto type deduction with lvalues and rvalues:

int x = 0; // `x` is an lvalue of type `int`
auto&& al = x; // `al` is an lvalue of type `int&` -- binds to the lvalue, `x`
auto&& ar = 0; // `ar` is an lvalue of type `int&&` -- binds to the rvalue temporary, `0`

Template type parameter deduction with lvalues and rvalues:

// Since C++14 or later:
void f(auto&& t) {
  // ...
}

// Since C++11 or later:
template <typename T>
void f(T&& t) {
  // ...
}

int x = 0;
f(0); // T is int, deduces as f(int &&) => f(int&&)
f(x); // T is int&, deduces as f(int& &&) => f(int&)

int& y = x;
f(y); // T is int&, deduces as f(int& &&) => f(int&)

int&& z = 0; // NOTE: `z` is an lvalue with type `int&&`.
f(z); // T is int&, deduces as f(int& &&) => f(int&)
f(std::move(z)); // T is int, deduces as f(int &&) => f(int&&)

See also: std::move, std::forward, rvalue references.