CODEWITHSUNDEEP
rusttraitsreference-lifetimes
RedCrafter LP
RedCrafter LP

Reputation: 240

Implement foreign Trait with Implicit lifetime on method

I have following foreign trait I don't control:

    pub trait Foo<T> {
        fn foo(input: &T) -> Self;
}

I want to implement that trait for a reference of an unsized Type that lives inside T

    impl Foo<Bar> for &[String] {
        fn from_ref(input: &Bar) -> Self {
            &input.bar
        }
    }

The problem is that this does not compile. It requires input to outlive the returned value. Which is the case because it stores it.

I tried adding explicit lifetimes but apparently I can't add a lifetime to input&Bar because of function signature. I also can't restrict the implicit lifetime '_ in the where clause.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 33

Answers (1)

kmdreko
kmdreko

Reputation: 60497

You cannot implement what you want. The trait interface does not define a lifetime relationship between input and Self. So an implementation cannot establish one.

In order to do that, the trait would either need:

  • a lifetime defined on it and linked to the reference:

    pub trait Foo<'a, T> {
    fn foo(input: &'a T) -> Self;
}

  • to use a generic associated type:

    pub trait Foo<T> {
    type Ref<'a> where T: 'a;
    fn foo<'a>(input: &'a T) -> Self::Ref<'a>;
}

Upvotes: 0

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