c++ function return NULL string reference
<p>I have a function has a return type of <code>std::string&amp;</code> and how do I return a NULL <code>string&amp;</code> if no condition matches in the function?</p>

<pre><code>std::string&amp; SomeClass::getSomething()
{
     if(){...}
     else if(){...}
     // return a NULL
}
</code></pre>