Associated Items

^Syntax
AssociatedItem :
   OuterAttribute^* (
         MacroInvocationSemi
      | ( Visibility^? ( TypeAlias | ConstantItem | Function ) )
   )

Associated Items are the items declared in traits or defined in implementations. They are called this because they are defined on an associate type — the type in the implementation. They are a subset of the kinds of items you can declare in a module. Specifically, there are associated functions (including methods), associated types, and associated constants.

Associated items are useful when the associated item logically is related to the associating item. For example, the is_some method on Option is intrinsically related to Options, so should be associated.

Every associated item kind comes in two varieties: definitions that contain the actual implementation and declarations that declare signatures for definitions.

It is the declarations that make up the contract of traits and what is available on generic types.

Associated functions and methods

Associated functions are functions associated with a type.

An associated function declaration declares a signature for an associated function definition. It is written as a function item, except the function body is replaced with a ;.

The identifier is the name of the function. The generics, parameter list, return type, and where clause of the associated function must be the same as the associated function declarations's.

An associated function definition defines a function associated with another type. It is written the same as a function item.

An example of a common associated function is a new function that returns a value of the type the associated function is associated with.

struct Struct {
    field: i32
}

impl Struct {
    fn new() -> Struct {
        Struct {
            field: 0i32
        }
    }
}

fn main () {
    let _struct = Struct::new();
}

When the associated function is declared on a trait, the function can also be called with a path that is a path to the trait appended by the name of the trait. When this happens, it is substituted for <_ as Trait>::function_name.

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
trait Num {
    fn from_i32(n: i32) -> Self;
}

impl Num for f64 {
    fn from_i32(n: i32) -> f64 { n as f64 }
}

// These 4 are all equivalent in this case.
let _: f64 = Num::from_i32(42);
let _: f64 = <_ as Num>::from_i32(42);
let _: f64 = <f64 as Num>::from_i32(42);
let _: f64 = f64::from_i32(42);
}

Methods

Associated functions whose first parameter is named self are called methods and may be invoked using the method call operator, for example, x.foo(), as well as the usual function call notation.

If the type of the self parameter is specified, it is limited to types resolving to one generated by the following grammar (where 'lt denotes some arbitrary lifetime):

P = &'lt S | &'lt mut S | Box<S> | Rc<S> | Arc<S> | Pin<P>
S = Self | P

The Self terminal in this grammar denotes a type resolving to the implementing type. This can also include the contextual type alias Self, other type aliases, or associated type projections resolving to the implementing type.

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
use std::rc::Rc;
use std::sync::Arc;
use std::pin::Pin;
// Examples of methods implemented on struct `Example`.
struct Example;
type Alias = Example;
trait Trait { type Output; }
impl Trait for Example { type Output = Example; }
impl Example {
    fn by_value(self: Self) {}
    fn by_ref(self: &Self) {}
    fn by_ref_mut(self: &mut Self) {}
    fn by_box(self: Box<Self>) {}
    fn by_rc(self: Rc<Self>) {}
    fn by_arc(self: Arc<Self>) {}
    fn by_pin(self: Pin<&Self>) {}
    fn explicit_type(self: Arc<Example>) {}
    fn with_lifetime<'a>(self: &'a Self) {}
    fn nested<'a>(self: &mut &'a Arc<Rc<Box<Alias>>>) {}
    fn via_projection(self: <Example as Trait>::Output) {}
}
}

Shorthand syntax can be used without specifying a type, which have the following equivalents:

Shorthand	Equivalent
`self`	`self: Self`
`&'lifetime self`	`self: &'lifetime Self`
`&'lifetime mut self`	`self: &'lifetime mut Self`

Note: Lifetimes can be, and usually are, elided with this shorthand.

If the self parameter is prefixed with mut, it becomes a mutable variable, similar to regular parameters using a mut identifier pattern. For example:

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
trait Changer: Sized {
    fn change(mut self) {}
    fn modify(mut self: Box<Self>) {}
}
}

As an example of methods on a trait, consider the following:

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
type Surface = i32;
type BoundingBox = i32;
trait Shape {
    fn draw(&self, surface: Surface);
    fn bounding_box(&self) -> BoundingBox;
}
}

This defines a trait with two methods. All values that have implementations of this trait while the trait is in scope can have their draw and bounding_box methods called.

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
type Surface = i32;
type BoundingBox = i32;
trait Shape {
    fn draw(&self, surface: Surface);
    fn bounding_box(&self) -> BoundingBox;
}

struct Circle {
    // ...
}

impl Shape for Circle {
    // ...
  fn draw(&self, _: Surface) {}
  fn bounding_box(&self) -> BoundingBox { 0i32 }
}

impl Circle {
    fn new() -> Circle { Circle{} }
}

let circle_shape = Circle::new();
let bounding_box = circle_shape.bounding_box();
}

Edition Differences: In the 2015 edition, it is possible to declare trait methods with anonymous parameters (e.g. fn foo(u8)). This is deprecated and an error as of the 2018 edition. All parameters must have an argument name.

Attributes on method parameters

Attributes on method parameters follow the same rules and restrictions as regular function parameters.

Associated Types

Associated types are type aliases associated with another type. Associated types cannot be defined in inherent implementations nor can they be given a default implementation in traits.

An associated type declaration declares a signature for associated type definitions. It is written in one of the following forms, where Assoc is the name of the associated type, Params is a comma-separated list of type, lifetime or const parameters, Bounds is a plus-separated list of trait bounds that the associated type must meet, and WhereBounds is a comma-separated list of bounds that the parameters must meet:

type Assoc;
type Assoc: Bounds;
type Assoc<Params>;
type Assoc<Params>: Bounds;
type Assoc<Params> where WhereBounds;
type Assoc<Params>: Bounds where WhereBounds;

The identifier is the name of the declared type alias. The optional trait bounds must be fulfilled by the implementations of the type alias. There is an implicit Sized bound on associated types that can be relaxed using the special ?Sized bound.

An associated type definition defines a type alias for the implementation of a trait on a type. They are written similarly to an associated type declaration, but cannot contain Bounds, but instead must contain a Type:

type Assoc = Type;
type Assoc<Params> = Type; // the type `Type` here may reference `Params`
type Assoc<Params> = Type where WhereBounds;
type Assoc<Params> where WhereBounds = Type; // deprecated, prefer the form above

If a type Item has an associated type Assoc from a trait Trait, then <Item as Trait>::Assoc is a type that is an alias of the type specified in the associated type definition. Furthermore, if Item is a type parameter, then Item::Assoc can be used in type parameters.

Associated types may include generic parameters and where clauses; these are often referred to as generic associated types, or GATs. If the type Thing has an associated type Item from a trait Trait with the generics <'a> , the type can be named like <Thing as Trait>::Item<'x>, where 'x is some lifetime in scope. In this case, 'x will be used wherever 'a appears in the associated type definitions on impls.

trait AssociatedType {
    // Associated type declaration
    type Assoc;
}

struct Struct;

struct OtherStruct;

impl AssociatedType for Struct {
    // Associated type definition
    type Assoc = OtherStruct;
}

impl OtherStruct {
    fn new() -> OtherStruct {
        OtherStruct
    }
}

fn main() {
    // Usage of the associated type to refer to OtherStruct as <Struct as AssociatedType>::Assoc
    let _other_struct: OtherStruct = <Struct as AssociatedType>::Assoc::new();
}

An example of associated types with generics and where clauses:

struct ArrayLender<'a, T>(&'a mut [T; 16]);

trait Lend {
    // Generic associated type declaration
    type Lender<'a> where Self: 'a;
    fn lend<'a>(&'a mut self) -> Self::Lender<'a>;
}

impl<T> Lend for [T; 16] {
    // Generic associated type definition
    type Lender<'a> = ArrayLender<'a, T> where Self: 'a;

    fn lend<'a>(&'a mut self) -> Self::Lender<'a> {
        ArrayLender(self)
    }
}

fn borrow<'a, T: Lend>(array: &'a mut T) -> <T as Lend>::Lender<'a> {
    array.lend()
}


fn main() {
    let mut array = [0usize; 16];
    let lender = borrow(&mut array);
}

Associated Types Container Example

Consider the following example of a Container trait. Notice that the type is available for use in the method signatures:

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
trait Container {
    type E;
    fn empty() -> Self;
    fn insert(&mut self, elem: Self::E);
}
}

In order for a type to implement this trait, it must not only provide implementations for every method, but it must specify the type E. Here's an implementation of Container for the standard library type Vec:

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
trait Container {
    type E;
    fn empty() -> Self;
    fn insert(&mut self, elem: Self::E);
}
impl<T> Container for Vec<T> {
    type E = T;
    fn empty() -> Vec<T> { Vec::new() }
    fn insert(&mut self, x: T) { self.push(x); }
}
}

Relationship between `Bounds` and `WhereBounds`

In this example:

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
use std::fmt::Debug;
trait Example {
    type Output<T>: Ord where T: Debug;
}
}

Given a reference to the associated type like <X as Example>::Output<Y>, the associated type itself must be Ord, and the type Y must be Debug.

Required where clauses on generic associated types

Generic associated type declarations on traits currently may require a list of where clauses, dependent on functions in the trait and how the GAT is used. These rules may be loosened in the future; updates can be found on the generic associated types initiative repository.

In a few words, these where clauses are required in order to maximize the allowed definitions of the associated type in impls. To do this, any clauses that can be proven to hold on functions (using the parameters of the function or trait) where a GAT appears as an input or output must also be written on the GAT itself.

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
trait LendingIterator {
    type Item<'x> where Self: 'x;
    fn next<'a>(&'a mut self) -> Self::Item<'a>;
}
}

In the above, on the next function, we can prove that Self: 'a, because of the implied bounds from &'a mut self; therefore, we must write the equivalent bound on the GAT itself: where Self: 'x.

When there are multiple functions in a trait that use the GAT, then the intersection of the bounds from the different functions are used, rather than the union.

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
trait Check<T> {
    type Checker<'x>;
    fn create_checker<'a>(item: &'a T) -> Self::Checker<'a>;
    fn do_check(checker: Self::Checker<'_>);
}
}

In this example, no bounds are required on the type Checker<'a>;. While we know that T: 'a on create_checker, we do not know that on do_check. However, if do_check was commented out, then the where T: 'x bound would be required on Checker.

The bounds on associated types also propagate required where clauses.

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
trait Iterable {
    type Item<'a> where Self: 'a;
    type Iterator<'a>: Iterator<Item = Self::Item<'a>> where Self: 'a;
    fn iter<'a>(&'a self) -> Self::Iterator<'a>;
}
}

Here, where Self: 'a is required on Item because of iter. However, Item is used in the bounds of Iterator, the where Self: 'a clause is also required there.

Finally, any explicit uses of 'static on GATs in the trait do not count towards the required bounds.

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
trait StaticReturn {
    type Y<'a>;
    fn foo(&self) -> Self::Y<'static>;
}
}

Associated Constants

Associated constants are constants associated with a type.

An associated constant declaration declares a signature for associated constant definitions. It is written as const, then an identifier, then :, then a type, finished by a ;.

The identifier is the name of the constant used in the path. The type is the type that the definition has to implement.

An associated constant definition defines a constant associated with a type. It is written the same as a constant item.

Associated constant definitions undergo constant evaluation only when referenced. Further, definitions that include generic parameters are evaluated after monomorphization.

struct Struct;
struct GenericStruct<const ID: i32>;

impl Struct {
    // Definition not immediately evaluated
    const PANIC: () = panic!("compile-time panic");
}

impl<const ID: i32> GenericStruct<ID> {
    // Definition not immediately evaluated
    const NON_ZERO: () = if ID == 0 {
        panic!("contradiction")
    };
}

fn main() {
    // Referencing Struct::PANIC causes compilation error
    let _ = Struct::PANIC;

    // Fine, ID is not 0
    let _ = GenericStruct::<1>::NON_ZERO;

    // Compilation error from evaluating NON_ZERO with ID=0
    let _ = GenericStruct::<0>::NON_ZERO;
}

Associated Constants Examples

A basic example:

trait ConstantId {
    const ID: i32;
}

struct Struct;

impl ConstantId for Struct {
    const ID: i32 = 1;
}

fn main() {
    assert_eq!(1, Struct::ID);
}

Using default values:

trait ConstantIdDefault {
    const ID: i32 = 1;
}

struct Struct;
struct OtherStruct;

impl ConstantIdDefault for Struct {}

impl ConstantIdDefault for OtherStruct {
    const ID: i32 = 5;
}

fn main() {
    assert_eq!(1, Struct::ID);
    assert_eq!(5, OtherStruct::ID);
}

The Rust Reference