I can't find where std::option comes useful - stdoptional

Question

I found above code in this link and it tells that this example where std::option nicely fits!
class UserRecord
{
public:
UserRecord(const std::string& name, std::optional<std::string> nick, std::optional<int> age)
: mName{ name }, mNick{ nick }, mAge{ age }
{
}
friend std::ostream& operator << (std::ostream& stream, const UserRecord& user);
private:
std::string mName;
std::optional<std::string> mNick;
std::optional<int> mAge;
};
std::ostream& operator << (std::ostream& os, const UserRecord& user)
{
os << user.mName << ' ';
if (user.mNick) {
os << *user.mNick << ' ';
}
if (user.mAge)
os << "age of " << *user.mAge;
return os;
}
int main()
{
UserRecord tim{ "Tim", "SuperTim", 16 };
UserRecord nano{ "Nathan", std::nullopt, std::nullopt };
std::cout << tim << "\n";
std::cout << nano << "\n";
}
I created another one without optional which is below and i find it more easier than one which uses std::option.
I think the second version is more readable because no need to use std::nullopt
class UserRecord
{
public:
UserRecord(const std::string& name, std::string nick = "", int age = 0)
: mName{ name }, mNick{ nick }, mAge{ age }
{
}
friend std::ostream& operator << (std::ostream& stream, const UserRecord& user);
private:
std::string mName;
std::string mNick;
int mAge;
};
std::ostream& operator << (std::ostream& os, const UserRecord& user)
{
os << user.mName << ' ';
if (user.mNick != "") {
os << user.mNick << ' ';
}
if (user.mAge != 0)
os << "age of " << user.mAge;
return os;
}
int main()
{
UserRecord tim{ "Tim", "SuperTim", 16 };
UserRecord nano{ "Nathan" };
std::cout << tim << "\n";
std::cout << nano << "\n";
}
So, why do we need to use optional in general and specially in this case?