Why we cannot store null into reference in c++?

Question

i want to know why we can not store null in reference ,even though it is a pointer internally.

Answer 1

if a pointer can store null and if reference acts as a pointer internally then why it cant store null ? i know there is no use of it but still needs to clear my doubts

Answer 2

rushi joshi Because the compiler makes sure, at compile-time, that you don't assign a null to a reference.

Answer 3

Why don't you reverse the question? What would be the use of storing null in a reference?