Enum alloc::borrow::Cow

1.0.0 · source ·
pub enum Cow<'a, B>
where B: ToOwned + ?Sized + 'a,
{ Borrowed(&'a B), Owned(<B as ToOwned>::Owned), }
Expand description

A clone-on-write smart pointer.

The type Cow is a smart pointer providing clone-on-write functionality: it can enclose and provide immutable access to borrowed data, and clone the data lazily when mutation or ownership is required. The type is designed to work with general borrowed data via the Borrow trait.

Cow implements Deref, which means that you can call non-mutating methods directly on the data it encloses. If mutation is desired, to_mut will obtain a mutable reference to an owned value, cloning if necessary.

If you need reference-counting pointers, note that Rc::make_mut and Arc::make_mut can provide clone-on-write functionality as well.

§Examples

use std::borrow::Cow;

fn abs_all(input: &mut Cow<'_, [i32]>) {
    for i in 0..input.len() {
        let v = input[i];
        if v < 0 {
            // Clones into a vector if not already owned.
            input.to_mut()[i] = -v;
        }
    }
}

// No clone occurs because `input` doesn't need to be mutated.
let slice = [0, 1, 2];
let mut input = Cow::from(&slice[..]);
abs_all(&mut input);

// Clone occurs because `input` needs to be mutated.
let slice = [-1, 0, 1];
let mut input = Cow::from(&slice[..]);
abs_all(&mut input);

// No clone occurs because `input` is already owned.
let mut input = Cow::from(vec![-1, 0, 1]);
abs_all(&mut input);
Run

Another example showing how to keep Cow in a struct:

use std::borrow::Cow;

struct Items<'a, X> where [X]: ToOwned<Owned = Vec<X>> {
    values: Cow<'a, [X]>,
}

impl<'a, X: Clone + 'a> Items<'a, X> where [X]: ToOwned<Owned = Vec<X>> {
    fn new(v: Cow<'a, [X]>) -> Self {
        Items { values: v }
    }
}

// Creates a container from borrowed values of a slice
let readonly = [1, 2];
let borrowed = Items::new((&readonly[..]).into());
match borrowed {
    Items { values: Cow::Borrowed(b) } => println!("borrowed {b:?}"),
    _ => panic!("expect borrowed value"),
}

let mut clone_on_write = borrowed;
// Mutates the data from slice into owned vec and pushes a new value on top
clone_on_write.values.to_mut().push(3);
println!("clone_on_write = {:?}", clone_on_write.values);

// The data was mutated. Let's check it out.
match clone_on_write {
    Items { values: Cow::Owned(_) } => println!("clone_on_write contains owned data"),
    _ => panic!("expect owned data"),
}
Run

Variants§

§

Borrowed(&'a B)

Borrowed data.

§

Owned(<B as ToOwned>::Owned)

Owned data.

Implementations§

source§

impl<B: ?Sized + ToOwned> Cow<'_, B>

const: unstable · source

pub fn is_borrowed(&self) -> bool

🔬This is a nightly-only experimental API. (cow_is_borrowed #65143)

Returns true if the data is borrowed, i.e. if to_mut would require additional work.

§Examples
#![feature(cow_is_borrowed)]
use std::borrow::Cow;

let cow = Cow::Borrowed("moo");
assert!(cow.is_borrowed());

let bull: Cow<'_, str> = Cow::Owned("...moo?".to_string());
assert!(!bull.is_borrowed());
Run
const: unstable · source

pub fn is_owned(&self) -> bool

🔬This is a nightly-only experimental API. (cow_is_borrowed #65143)

Returns true if the data is owned, i.e. if to_mut would be a no-op.

§Examples
#![feature(cow_is_borrowed)]
use std::borrow::Cow;

let cow: Cow<'_, str> = Cow::Owned("moo".to_string());
assert!(cow.is_owned());

let bull = Cow::Borrowed("...moo?");
assert!(!bull.is_owned());
Run
source

pub fn to_mut(&mut self) -> &mut <B as ToOwned>::Owned

Acquires a mutable reference to the owned form of the data.

Clones the data if it is not already owned.

§Examples
use std::borrow::Cow;

let mut cow = Cow::Borrowed("foo");
cow.to_mut().make_ascii_uppercase();

assert_eq!(
  cow,
  Cow::Owned(String::from("FOO")) as Cow<'_, str>
);
Run
source

pub fn into_owned(self) -> <B as ToOwned>::Owned

Extracts the owned data.

Clones the data if it is not already owned.

§Examples

Calling into_owned on a Cow::Borrowed returns a clone of the borrowed data:

use std::borrow::Cow;

let s = "Hello world!";
let cow = Cow::Borrowed(s);

assert_eq!(
  cow.into_owned(),
  String::from(s)
);
Run

Calling into_owned on a Cow::Owned returns the owned data. The data is moved out of the Cow without being cloned.

use std::borrow::Cow;

let s = "Hello world!";
let cow: Cow<'_, str> = Cow::Owned(String::from(s));

assert_eq!(
  cow.into_owned(),
  String::from(s)
);
Run

Trait Implementations§

1.14.0 · source§

impl<'a> Add<&'a str> for Cow<'a, str>

§

type Output = Cow<'a, str>

The resulting type after applying the + operator.
source§

fn add(self, rhs: &'a str) -> Self::Output

Performs the + operation. Read more
1.14.0 · source§

impl<'a> Add for Cow<'a, str>

§

type Output = Cow<'a, str>

The resulting type after applying the + operator.
source§

fn add(self, rhs: Cow<'a, str>) -> Self::Output

Performs the + operation. Read more
1.14.0 · source§

impl<'a> AddAssign<&'a str> for Cow<'a, str>

source§

fn add_assign(&mut self, rhs: &'a str)

Performs the += operation. Read more
1.14.0 · source§

impl<'a> AddAssign for Cow<'a, str>

source§

fn add_assign(&mut self, rhs: Cow<'a, str>)

Performs the += operation. Read more
source§

impl<T: ?Sized + ToOwned> AsRef<T> for Cow<'_, T>

source§

fn as_ref(&self) -> &T

Converts this type into a shared reference of the (usually inferred) input type.
source§

impl<'a, B> Borrow<B> for Cow<'a, B>
where B: ToOwned + ?Sized,

source§

fn borrow(&self) -> &B

Immutably borrows from an owned value. Read more
source§

impl<B: ?Sized + ToOwned> Clone for Cow<'_, B>

source§

fn clone(&self) -> Self

Returns a copy of the value. Read more
source§

fn clone_from(&mut self, source: &Self)

Performs copy-assignment from source. Read more
source§

impl<B> Debug for Cow<'_, B>
where B: Debug + ToOwned<Owned: Debug> + ?Sized,

source§

fn fmt(&self, f: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> Result

Formats the value using the given formatter. Read more
1.11.0 · source§

impl<B> Default for Cow<'_, B>
where B: ToOwned<Owned: Default> + ?Sized,

source§

fn default() -> Self

Creates an owned Cow<’a, B> with the default value for the contained owned value.

source§

impl<B: ?Sized + ToOwned> Deref for Cow<'_, B>
where B::Owned: Borrow<B>,

§

type Target = B

The resulting type after dereferencing.
source§

fn deref(&self) -> &B

Dereferences the value.
source§

impl<B> Display for Cow<'_, B>
where B: Display + ToOwned<Owned: Display> + ?Sized,

source§

fn fmt(&self, f: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> Result

Formats the value using the given formatter. Read more
1.19.0 · source§

impl<'a> Extend<Cow<'a, str>> for String

source§

fn extend<I: IntoIterator<Item = Cow<'a, str>>>(&mut self, iter: I)

Extends a collection with the contents of an iterator. Read more
source§

fn extend_one(&mut self, s: Cow<'a, str>)

🔬This is a nightly-only experimental API. (extend_one #72631)
Extends a collection with exactly one element.
source§

fn extend_reserve(&mut self, additional: usize)

🔬This is a nightly-only experimental API. (extend_one #72631)
Reserves capacity in a collection for the given number of additional elements. Read more
1.8.0 · source§

impl<'a, T: Clone> From<&'a [T]> for Cow<'a, [T]>

source§

fn from(s: &'a [T]) -> Cow<'a, [T]>

Creates a Borrowed variant of Cow from a slice.

This conversion does not allocate or clone the data.

1.77.0 · source§

impl<'a, T: Clone, const N: usize> From<&'a [T; N]> for Cow<'a, [T]>

source§

fn from(s: &'a [T; N]) -> Cow<'a, [T]>

Creates a Borrowed variant of Cow from a reference to an array.

This conversion does not allocate or clone the data.

1.28.0 · source§

impl<'a> From<&'a CStr> for Cow<'a, CStr>

source§

fn from(s: &'a CStr) -> Cow<'a, CStr>

Converts a CStr into a borrowed Cow without copying or allocating.

1.28.0 · source§

impl<'a> From<&'a CString> for Cow<'a, CStr>

source§

fn from(s: &'a CString) -> Cow<'a, CStr>

Converts a &CString into a borrowed Cow without copying or allocating.

1.28.0 · source§

impl<'a> From<&'a String> for Cow<'a, str>

source§

fn from(s: &'a String) -> Cow<'a, str>

Converts a String reference into a Borrowed variant. No heap allocation is performed, and the string is not copied.

§Example
let s = "eggplant".to_string();
assert_eq!(Cow::from(&s), Cow::Borrowed("eggplant"));
Run
1.28.0 · source§

impl<'a, T: Clone> From<&'a Vec<T>> for Cow<'a, [T]>

source§

fn from(v: &'a Vec<T>) -> Cow<'a, [T]>

Creates a Borrowed variant of Cow from a reference to Vec.

This conversion does not allocate or clone the data.

source§

impl<'a> From<&'a str> for Cow<'a, str>

source§

fn from(s: &'a str) -> Cow<'a, str>

Converts a string slice into a Borrowed variant. No heap allocation is performed, and the string is not copied.

§Example
assert_eq!(Cow::from("eggplant"), Cow::Borrowed("eggplant"));
Run
1.28.0 · source§

impl<'a> From<CString> for Cow<'a, CStr>

source§

fn from(s: CString) -> Cow<'a, CStr>

Converts a CString into an owned Cow without copying or allocating.

1.45.0 · source§

impl<T: Clone> From<Cow<'_, [T]>> for Box<[T]>

source§

fn from(cow: Cow<'_, [T]>) -> Box<[T]>

Converts a Cow<'_, [T]> into a Box<[T]>

When cow is the Cow::Borrowed variant, this conversion allocates on the heap and copies the underlying slice. Otherwise, it will try to reuse the owned Vec’s allocation.

1.45.0 · source§

impl From<Cow<'_, CStr>> for Box<CStr>

source§

fn from(cow: Cow<'_, CStr>) -> Box<CStr>

Converts a Cow<'a, CStr> into a Box<CStr>, by copying the contents if they are borrowed.

1.45.0 · source§

impl From<Cow<'_, str>> for Box<str>

source§

fn from(cow: Cow<'_, str>) -> Box<str>

Converts a Cow<'_, str> into a Box<str>

When cow is the Cow::Borrowed variant, this conversion allocates on the heap and copies the underlying str. Otherwise, it will try to reuse the owned String’s allocation.

§Examples
use std::borrow::Cow;

let unboxed = Cow::Borrowed("hello");
let boxed: Box<str> = Box::from(unboxed);
println!("{boxed}");
Run
let unboxed = Cow::Owned("hello".to_string());
let boxed: Box<str> = Box::from(unboxed);
println!("{boxed}");
Run
1.14.0 · source§

impl<'a, T> From<Cow<'a, [T]>> for Vec<T>
where [T]: ToOwned<Owned = Vec<T>>,

source§

fn from(s: Cow<'a, [T]>) -> Vec<T>

Convert a clone-on-write slice into a vector.

If s already owns a Vec<T>, it will be returned directly. If s is borrowing a slice, a new Vec<T> will be allocated and filled by cloning s’s items into it.

§Examples
let o: Cow<'_, [i32]> = Cow::Owned(vec![1, 2, 3]);
let b: Cow<'_, [i32]> = Cow::Borrowed(&[1, 2, 3]);
assert_eq!(Vec::from(o), Vec::from(b));
Run
1.45.0 · source§

impl<'a, B> From<Cow<'a, B>> for Arc<B>
where B: ToOwned + ?Sized, Arc<B>: From<&'a B> + From<B::Owned>,

source§

fn from(cow: Cow<'a, B>) -> Arc<B>

Create an atomically reference-counted pointer from a clone-on-write pointer by copying its content.

§Example
let cow: Cow<'_, str> = Cow::Borrowed("eggplant");
let shared: Arc<str> = Arc::from(cow);
assert_eq!("eggplant", &shared[..]);
Run
1.45.0 · source§

impl<'a, B> From<Cow<'a, B>> for Rc<B>
where B: ToOwned + ?Sized, Rc<B>: From<&'a B> + From<B::Owned>,

source§

fn from(cow: Cow<'a, B>) -> Rc<B>

Create a reference-counted pointer from a clone-on-write pointer by copying its content.

§Example
let cow: Cow<'_, str> = Cow::Borrowed("eggplant");
let shared: Rc<str> = Rc::from(cow);
assert_eq!("eggplant", &shared[..]);
Run
1.28.0 · source§

impl<'a> From<Cow<'a, CStr>> for CString

source§

fn from(s: Cow<'a, CStr>) -> Self

Converts a Cow<'a, CStr> into a CString, by copying the contents if they are borrowed.

1.22.0 · source§

impl<'a> From<Cow<'a, str>> for Box<dyn Error>

source§

fn from(err: Cow<'a, str>) -> Box<dyn Error>

Converts a Cow into a box of dyn Error.

§Examples
use std::error::Error;
use std::mem;
use std::borrow::Cow;

let a_cow_str_error = Cow::from("a str error");
let a_boxed_error = Box::<dyn Error>::from(a_cow_str_error);
assert!(mem::size_of::<Box<dyn Error>>() == mem::size_of_val(&a_boxed_error))
Run
1.14.0 · source§

impl<'a> From<Cow<'a, str>> for String

source§

fn from(s: Cow<'a, str>) -> String

Converts a clone-on-write string to an owned instance of String.

This extracts the owned string, clones the string if it is not already owned.

§Example
// If the string is not owned...
let cow: Cow<'_, str> = Cow::Borrowed("eggplant");
// It will allocate on the heap and copy the string.
let owned: String = String::from(cow);
assert_eq!(&owned[..], "eggplant");
Run
1.22.0 · source§

impl<'a, 'b> From<Cow<'b, str>> for Box<dyn Error + Send + Sync + 'a>

source§

fn from(err: Cow<'b, str>) -> Box<dyn Error + Send + Sync + 'a>

Converts a Cow into a box of dyn Error + Send + Sync.

§Examples
use std::error::Error;
use std::mem;
use std::borrow::Cow;

let a_cow_str_error = Cow::from("a str error");
let a_boxed_error = Box::<dyn Error + Send + Sync>::from(a_cow_str_error);
assert!(
    mem::size_of::<Box<dyn Error + Send + Sync>>() == mem::size_of_val(&a_boxed_error))
Run
source§

impl<'a> From<String> for Cow<'a, str>

source§

fn from(s: String) -> Cow<'a, str>

Converts a String into an Owned variant. No heap allocation is performed, and the string is not copied.

§Example
let s = "eggplant".to_string();
let s2 = "eggplant".to_string();
assert_eq!(Cow::from(s), Cow::<'static, str>::Owned(s2));
Run
1.8.0 · source§

impl<'a, T: Clone> From<Vec<T>> for Cow<'a, [T]>

source§

fn from(v: Vec<T>) -> Cow<'a, [T]>

Creates an Owned variant of Cow from an owned instance of Vec.

This conversion does not allocate or clone the data.

1.12.0 · source§

impl<'a, 'b> FromIterator<&'b str> for Cow<'a, str>

source§

fn from_iter<I: IntoIterator<Item = &'b str>>(it: I) -> Cow<'a, str>

Creates a value from an iterator. Read more
1.19.0 · source§

impl<'a> FromIterator<Cow<'a, str>> for String

source§

fn from_iter<I: IntoIterator<Item = Cow<'a, str>>>(iter: I) -> String

Creates a value from an iterator. Read more
1.12.0 · source§

impl<'a> FromIterator<String> for Cow<'a, str>

source§

fn from_iter<I: IntoIterator<Item = String>>(it: I) -> Cow<'a, str>

Creates a value from an iterator. Read more
source§

impl<'a, T> FromIterator<T> for Cow<'a, [T]>
where T: Clone,

source§

fn from_iter<I: IntoIterator<Item = T>>(it: I) -> Cow<'a, [T]>

Creates a value from an iterator. Read more
1.12.0 · source§

impl<'a> FromIterator<char> for Cow<'a, str>

source§

fn from_iter<I: IntoIterator<Item = char>>(it: I) -> Cow<'a, str>

Creates a value from an iterator. Read more
source§

impl<B> Hash for Cow<'_, B>
where B: Hash + ToOwned + ?Sized,

source§

fn hash<H: Hasher>(&self, state: &mut H)

Feeds this value into the given Hasher. Read more
1.3.0 · source§

fn hash_slice<H>(data: &[Self], state: &mut H)
where H: Hasher, Self: Sized,

Feeds a slice of this type into the given Hasher. Read more
source§

impl<B> Ord for Cow<'_, B>
where B: Ord + ToOwned + ?Sized,

source§

fn cmp(&self, other: &Self) -> Ordering

This method returns an Ordering between self and other. Read more
1.21.0 · source§

fn max(self, other: Self) -> Self
where Self: Sized,

Compares and returns the maximum of two values. Read more
1.21.0 · source§

fn min(self, other: Self) -> Self
where Self: Sized,

Compares and returns the minimum of two values. Read more
1.50.0 · source§

fn clamp(self, min: Self, max: Self) -> Self
where Self: Sized + PartialOrd,

Restrict a value to a certain interval. Read more
source§

impl<T, U> PartialEq<&[U]> for Cow<'_, [T]>
where T: PartialEq<U> + Clone,

source§

fn eq(&self, other: &&[U]) -> bool

This method tests for self and other values to be equal, and is used by ==.
source§

fn ne(&self, other: &&[U]) -> bool

This method tests for !=. The default implementation is almost always sufficient, and should not be overridden without very good reason.
source§

impl<T, U> PartialEq<&mut [U]> for Cow<'_, [T]>
where T: PartialEq<U> + Clone,

source§

fn eq(&self, other: &&mut [U]) -> bool

This method tests for self and other values to be equal, and is used by ==.
source§

fn ne(&self, other: &&mut [U]) -> bool

This method tests for !=. The default implementation is almost always sufficient, and should not be overridden without very good reason.
source§

impl<'a, 'b> PartialEq<&'b str> for Cow<'a, str>

source§

fn eq(&self, other: &&'b str) -> bool

This method tests for self and other values to be equal, and is used by ==.
source§

fn ne(&self, other: &&'b str) -> bool

This method tests for !=. The default implementation is almost always sufficient, and should not be overridden without very good reason.
source§

impl<'a, 'b> PartialEq<Cow<'a, str>> for &'b str

source§

fn eq(&self, other: &Cow<'a, str>) -> bool

This method tests for self and other values to be equal, and is used by ==.
source§

fn ne(&self, other: &Cow<'a, str>) -> bool

This method tests for !=. The default implementation is almost always sufficient, and should not be overridden without very good reason.
source§

impl<'a, 'b> PartialEq<Cow<'a, str>> for String

source§

fn eq(&self, other: &Cow<'a, str>) -> bool

This method tests for self and other values to be equal, and is used by ==.
source§

fn ne(&self, other: &Cow<'a, str>) -> bool

This method tests for !=. The default implementation is almost always sufficient, and should not be overridden without very good reason.
source§

impl<'a, 'b> PartialEq<Cow<'a, str>> for str

source§

fn eq(&self, other: &Cow<'a, str>) -> bool

This method tests for self and other values to be equal, and is used by ==.
source§

fn ne(&self, other: &Cow<'a, str>) -> bool

This method tests for !=. The default implementation is almost always sufficient, and should not be overridden without very good reason.
source§

impl<'a, 'b, B, C> PartialEq<Cow<'b, C>> for Cow<'a, B>
where B: PartialEq<C> + ToOwned + ?Sized, C: ToOwned + ?Sized,

source§

fn eq(&self, other: &Cow<'b, C>) -> bool

This method tests for self and other values to be equal, and is used by ==.
source§

fn ne(&self, other: &Rhs) -> bool

This method tests for !=. The default implementation is almost always sufficient, and should not be overridden without very good reason.
source§

impl<'a, 'b> PartialEq<String> for Cow<'a, str>

source§

fn eq(&self, other: &String) -> bool

This method tests for self and other values to be equal, and is used by ==.
source§

fn ne(&self, other: &String) -> bool

This method tests for !=. The default implementation is almost always sufficient, and should not be overridden without very good reason.
source§

impl<T, U, A: Allocator> PartialEq<Vec<U, A>> for Cow<'_, [T]>
where T: PartialEq<U> + Clone,

source§

fn eq(&self, other: &Vec<U, A>) -> bool

This method tests for self and other values to be equal, and is used by ==.
source§

fn ne(&self, other: &Vec<U, A>) -> bool

This method tests for !=. The default implementation is almost always sufficient, and should not be overridden without very good reason.
source§

impl<'a, 'b> PartialEq<str> for Cow<'a, str>

source§

fn eq(&self, other: &str) -> bool

This method tests for self and other values to be equal, and is used by ==.
source§

fn ne(&self, other: &str) -> bool

This method tests for !=. The default implementation is almost always sufficient, and should not be overridden without very good reason.
source§

impl<'a, B> PartialOrd for Cow<'a, B>
where B: PartialOrd + ToOwned + ?Sized,

source§

fn partial_cmp(&self, other: &Cow<'a, B>) -> Option<Ordering>

This method returns an ordering between self and other values if one exists. Read more
source§

fn lt(&self, other: &Rhs) -> bool

This method tests less than (for self and other) and is used by the < operator. Read more
source§

fn le(&self, other: &Rhs) -> bool

This method tests less than or equal to (for self and other) and is used by the <= operator. Read more
source§

fn gt(&self, other: &Rhs) -> bool

This method tests greater than (for self and other) and is used by the > operator. Read more
source§

fn ge(&self, other: &Rhs) -> bool

This method tests greater than or equal to (for self and other) and is used by the >= operator. Read more
source§

impl<B> Eq for Cow<'_, B>
where B: Eq + ToOwned + ?Sized,

Auto Trait Implementations§

§

impl<'a, B: ?Sized> RefUnwindSafe for Cow<'a, B>

§

impl<'a, B: ?Sized> Send for Cow<'a, B>
where B: Sync, <B as ToOwned>::Owned: Send,

§

impl<'a, B: ?Sized> Sync for Cow<'a, B>
where B: Sync, <B as ToOwned>::Owned: Sync,

§

impl<'a, B: ?Sized> Unpin for Cow<'a, B>
where <B as ToOwned>::Owned: Unpin,

§

impl<'a, B: ?Sized> UnwindSafe for Cow<'a, B>

Blanket Implementations§

source§

impl<T> Any for T
where T: 'static + ?Sized,

source§

fn type_id(&self) -> TypeId

Gets the TypeId of self. Read more
source§

impl<T> Borrow<T> for T
where T: ?Sized,

source§

fn borrow(&self) -> &T

Immutably borrows from an owned value. Read more
source§

impl<T> BorrowMut<T> for T
where T: ?Sized,

source§

fn borrow_mut(&mut self) -> &mut T

Mutably borrows from an owned value. Read more
source§

impl<T> From<T> for T

source§

fn from(t: T) -> T

Returns the argument unchanged.

source§

impl<T, U> Into<U> for T
where U: From<T>,

source§

fn into(self) -> U

Calls U::from(self).

That is, this conversion is whatever the implementation of From<T> for U chooses to do.

source§

impl<T> ToOwned for T
where T: Clone,

§

type Owned = T

The resulting type after obtaining ownership.
source§

fn to_owned(&self) -> T

Creates owned data from borrowed data, usually by cloning. Read more
source§

fn clone_into(&self, target: &mut T)

Uses borrowed data to replace owned data, usually by cloning. Read more
source§

impl<T> ToString for T
where T: Display + ?Sized,

source§

default fn to_string(&self) -> String

Converts the given value to a String. Read more
source§

impl<T, U> TryFrom<U> for T
where U: Into<T>,

§

type Error = Infallible

The type returned in the event of a conversion error.
source§

fn try_from(value: U) -> Result<T, <T as TryFrom<U>>::Error>

Performs the conversion.
source§

impl<T, U> TryInto<U> for T
where U: TryFrom<T>,

§

type Error = <U as TryFrom<T>>::Error

The type returned in the event of a conversion error.
source§

fn try_into(self) -> Result<U, <U as TryFrom<T>>::Error>

Performs the conversion.