pub enum Variance {
    Covariant,
    Invariant,
    Contravariant,
}
Expand description

Variance

Variants

Covariant

a <: b

Invariant

a == b

Contravariant

b <: a

Implementations

a.xform(b) combines the variance of a context with the variance of a type with the following meaning. If we are in a context with variance a, and we encounter a type argument in a position with variance b, then a.xform(b) is the new variance with which the argument appears.

Example 1:

*mut Vec<i32>

Here, the “ambient” variance starts as covariant. *mut T is invariant with respect to T, so the variance in which the Vec<i32> appears is Covariant.xform(Invariant), which yields Invariant. Now, the type Vec<T> is covariant with respect to its type argument T, and hence the variance of the i32 here is Invariant.xform(Covariant), which results (again) in Invariant.

Example 2:

fn(*const Vec<i32>, *mut Vec<i32)

The ambient variance is covariant. A fn type is contravariant with respect to its parameters, so the variance within which both pointer types appear is Covariant.xform(Contravariant), or Contravariant. *const T is covariant with respect to T, so the variance within which the first Vec<i32> appears is Contravariant.xform(Covariant) or Contravariant. The same is true for its i32 argument. In the *mut T case, the variance of Vec<i32> is Contravariant.xform(Invariant), and hence the outermost type is Invariant with respect to Vec<i32> (and its i32 argument).

Source: Figure 1 of “Taming the Wildcards: Combining Definition- and Use-Site Variance” published in PLDI’11. (Doc from rustc)

Converts Covariant into Contravariant and vice-versa. Invariant stays the same.

Trait Implementations

Returns a copy of the value. Read more

Performs copy-assignment from source. Read more

Formats the value using the given formatter. Read more

Feeds this value into the given Hasher. Read more

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

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

This method tests for !=.

Auto Trait Implementations

Blanket Implementations

Gets the TypeId of self. Read more

Immutably borrows from an owned value. Read more

Mutably borrows from an owned value. Read more

Cast a value to type U using CastTo.

Returns the argument unchanged.

Calls U::from(self).

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

The resulting type after obtaining ownership.

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

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

The type returned in the event of a conversion error.

Performs the conversion.

The type returned in the event of a conversion error.

Performs the conversion.