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Support using Self or projections inside an RPIT/async fn #103491

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merged 15 commits into from
Nov 21, 2022

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@cjgillot cjgillot commented Oct 24, 2022

I reuse the same idea as #103449 to use variances to encode whether a lifetime parameter is captured by impl-trait.

The current implementation of async and RPIT replace all lifetimes from the parent generics by 'static. This PR changes the scheme

impl<'a> Foo<'a> {
    fn foo<'b, T>() -> impl Into<Self> + 'b { ... }
}

opaque Foo::<'_a>::foo::<'_b, T>::opaque<'b>: Into<Foo<'_a>> + 'b;
impl<'a> Foo<'a> {
    // OLD
    fn foo<'b, T>() -> Foo::<'static>::foo::<'static, T>::opaque::<'b> { ... }
                             ^^^^^^^ the `Self` becomes `Foo<'static>`

    // NEW
    fn foo<'b, T>() -> Foo::<'a>::foo::<'b, T>::opaque::<'b> { ... }
                             ^^ the `Self` stays `Foo<'a>`
}

There is the same issue with projections. In the example, substitute Self by <T as Trait<'b>>::Assoc in the sugared version, and Foo<'_a> by <T as Trait<'_b>>::Assoc in the desugared one.

This allows to support Self in impl-trait, since we do not replace lifetimes by 'static any more. The same trick allows to use projections like T::Assoc where Self is allowed. The feature is gated behind a impl_trait_projections feature gate.

The implementation relies on 2 tweaking rules for opaques in 2 places:

  • we only relate substs that correspond to captured lifetimes during TypeRelation;
  • we only list captured lifetimes in choice region computation.

For simplicity, I encoded the "capturedness" of lifetimes as a variance, Bivariant vs Invariant for unused vs captured lifetimes. The variances_of query used to ICE for opaques.

Impl-trait that do not reference Self or projections will have their variances as:

  • o (invariant) for each parent type or const;
  • * (bivariant) for each parent lifetime --> will not participate in borrowck;
  • o (invariant) for each own lifetime.

Impl-trait that does reference Self and/or projections will have some parent lifetimes marked as o (as the example above), and participate in type relation and borrowck. In the example above, variances_of(opaque) = ['_a: o, '_b: *, T: o, 'b: o].

r? types
cc @compiler-errors , as you asked about the issue with Self and projections.

@rustbot rustbot added the T-compiler Relevant to the compiler team, which will review and decide on the PR/issue. label Oct 24, 2022
@rust-highfive rust-highfive added the S-waiting-on-review Status: Awaiting review from the assignee but also interested parties. label Oct 24, 2022
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rustbot commented Oct 26, 2022

Some changes occurred in diagnostic error codes

cc @GuillaumeGomez

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Never comment an error code which has an associated error explanation.

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Looks good for the error code explanation part. Thanks!

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oli-obk commented Nov 2, 2022

r? @oli-obk

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bors commented Nov 12, 2022

☔ The latest upstream changes (presumably #103530) made this pull request unmergeable. Please resolve the merge conflicts.

@bors bors added the merged-by-bors This PR was explicitly merged by bors. label Nov 21, 2022
@bors bors merged commit 7fe6f36 into rust-lang:master Nov 21, 2022
@rustbot rustbot added this to the 1.67.0 milestone Nov 21, 2022
@jackh726 jackh726 removed the I-types-nominated Nominated for discussion during a types team meeting. label Nov 21, 2022
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Finished benchmarking commit (7fe6f36): comparison URL.

Overall result: ❌ regressions - no action needed

@rustbot label: -perf-regression

Instruction count

This is a highly reliable metric that was used to determine the overall result at the top of this comment.

mean range count
Regressions ❌
(primary)
- - 0
Regressions ❌
(secondary)
0.7% [0.4%, 1.3%] 7
Improvements ✅
(primary)
- - 0
Improvements ✅
(secondary)
- - 0
All ❌✅ (primary) - - 0

Max RSS (memory usage)

Results

This is a less reliable metric that may be of interest but was not used to determine the overall result at the top of this comment.

mean range count
Regressions ❌
(primary)
- - 0
Regressions ❌
(secondary)
4.1% [4.1%, 4.1%] 1
Improvements ✅
(primary)
-1.0% [-1.0%, -1.0%] 1
Improvements ✅
(secondary)
- - 0
All ❌✅ (primary) -1.0% [-1.0%, -1.0%] 1

Cycles

Results

This is a less reliable metric that may be of interest but was not used to determine the overall result at the top of this comment.

mean range count
Regressions ❌
(primary)
- - 0
Regressions ❌
(secondary)
2.0% [1.9%, 2.1%] 2
Improvements ✅
(primary)
- - 0
Improvements ✅
(secondary)
- - 0
All ❌✅ (primary) - - 0

@rustbot rustbot removed the perf-regression Performance regression. label Nov 21, 2022
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oli-obk commented Nov 21, 2022

This perf regression is expected. We are generating obligations that were missing before

@cjgillot cjgillot deleted the self-rpit branch November 21, 2022 19:01
matthiaskrgr added a commit to matthiaskrgr/rust that referenced this pull request Nov 28, 2022
…-obk

Ignore bivariant parameters in test_type_match.

rust-lang#103491 made opaque types bivariant with respect of some of their lifetime parameters.  Because of this bivariance, some lifetime variables were not unified to anything during borrowck, and were considered as unequal by borrowck type test.

This PR makes type test ignore the bivariant parameters in test_type_match.

Fixes rust-lang#104815

r? `@oli-obk`
RalfJung pushed a commit to RalfJung/miri that referenced this pull request Dec 3, 2022
Ignore bivariant parameters in test_type_match.

rust-lang/rust#103491 made opaque types bivariant with respect of some of their lifetime parameters.  Because of this bivariance, some lifetime variables were not unified to anything during borrowck, and were considered as unequal by borrowck type test.

This PR makes type test ignore the bivariant parameters in test_type_match.

Fixes rust-lang/rust#104815

r? `@oli-obk`
Aaron1011 pushed a commit to Aaron1011/rust that referenced this pull request Jan 6, 2023
Support using `Self` or projections inside an RPIT/async fn

I reuse the same idea as rust-lang#103449 to use variances to encode whether a lifetime parameter is captured by impl-trait.

The current implementation of async and RPIT replace all lifetimes from the parent generics by `'static`.  This PR changes the scheme
```rust
impl<'a> Foo<'a> {
    fn foo<'b, T>() -> impl Into<Self> + 'b { ... }
}

opaque Foo::<'_a>::foo::<'_b, T>::opaque<'b>: Into<Foo<'_a>> + 'b;
impl<'a> Foo<'a> {
    // OLD
    fn foo<'b, T>() -> Foo::<'static>::foo::<'static, T>::opaque::<'b> { ... }
                             ^^^^^^^ the `Self` becomes `Foo<'static>`

    // NEW
    fn foo<'b, T>() -> Foo::<'a>::foo::<'b, T>::opaque::<'b> { ... }
                             ^^ the `Self` stays `Foo<'a>`
}
```

There is the same issue with projections. In the example, substitute `Self` by `<T as Trait<'b>>::Assoc` in the sugared version, and `Foo<'_a>` by `<T as Trait<'_b>>::Assoc` in the desugared one.

This allows to support `Self` in impl-trait, since we do not replace lifetimes by `'static` any more.  The same trick allows to use projections like `T::Assoc` where `Self` is allowed.  The feature is gated behind a `impl_trait_projections` feature gate.

The implementation relies on 2 tweaking rules for opaques in 2 places:
- we only relate substs that correspond to captured lifetimes during TypeRelation;
- we only list captured lifetimes in choice region computation.

For simplicity, I encoded the "capturedness" of lifetimes as a variance, `Bivariant` vs `Invariant` for unused vs captured lifetimes. The `variances_of` query used to ICE for opaques.

Impl-trait that do not reference `Self` or projections will have their variances as:
- `o` (invariant) for each parent type or const;
- `*` (bivariant) for each parent lifetime --> will not participate in borrowck;
- `o` (invariant) for each own lifetime.

Impl-trait that does reference `Self` and/or projections will have some parent lifetimes marked as `o` (as the example above), and participate in type relation and borrowck.  In the example above, `variances_of(opaque) = ['_a: o, '_b: *, T: o, 'b: o]`.

r? types
cc `@compiler-errors` , as you asked about the issue with `Self` and projections.
bors added a commit to rust-lang-ci/rust that referenced this pull request Sep 28, 2023
Stabilize `impl_trait_projections`

Closes rust-lang#115659

## TL;DR:

This allows us to mention `Self` and `T::Assoc` in async fn and return-position `impl Trait`, as you would expect you'd be able to.

Some examples:
```rust
#![feature(return_position_impl_trait_in_trait, async_fn_in_trait)]
// (just needed for final tests below)

// ---------------------------------------- //

struct Wrapper<'a, T>(&'a T);

impl Wrapper<'_, ()> {
    async fn async_fn() -> Self {
        //^ Previously rejected because it returns `-> Self`, not `-> Wrapper<'_, ()>`.
        Wrapper(&())
    }

    fn impl_trait() -> impl Iterator<Item = Self> {
        //^ Previously rejected because it mentions `Self`, not `Wrapper<'_, ()>`.
        std::iter::once(Wrapper(&()))
    }
}

// ---------------------------------------- //

trait Trait<'a> {
    type Assoc;
    fn new() -> Self::Assoc;
}
impl Trait<'_> for () {
    type Assoc = ();
    fn new() {}
}

impl<'a, T: Trait<'a>> Wrapper<'a, T> {
    async fn mk_assoc() -> T::Assoc {
        //^ Previously rejected because `T::Assoc` doesn't mention `'a` in the HIR,
        //  but ends up resolving to `<T as Trait<'a>>::Assoc`, which does rely on `'a`.
        // That's the important part -- the elided trait.
        T::new()
    }

    fn a_few_assocs() -> impl Iterator<Item = T::Assoc> {
        //^ Previously rejected for the same reason
        [T::new(), T::new(), T::new()].into_iter()
    }
}

// ---------------------------------------- //

trait InTrait {
    async fn async_fn() -> Self;

    fn impl_trait() -> impl Iterator<Item = Self>;
}

impl InTrait for &() {
    async fn async_fn() -> Self { &() }
    //^ Previously rejected just like inherent impls

    fn impl_trait() -> impl Iterator<Item = Self> {
        //^ Previously rejected just like inherent impls
        [&()].into_iter()
    }
}
```

## Technical:

Lifetimes in return-position `impl Trait` (and `async fn`) are duplicated as early-bound generics local to the opaque in order to make sure we are able to substitute any late-bound lifetimes from the function in the opaque's hidden type. (The [dev guide](https://rustc-dev-guide.rust-lang.org/return-position-impl-trait-in-trait.html#aside-opaque-lifetime-duplication) has a small section about why this is necessary -- this was written for RPITITs, but it applies to all RPITs)

Prior to rust-lang#103491, all of the early-bound lifetimes not local to the opaque were replaced with `'static` to avoid issues where relating opaques caused their *non-captured* lifetimes to be related. This `'static` replacement led to strange and possibly unsound behaviors (rust-lang#61949 (comment)) (rust-lang#53613) when referencing the `Self` type alias in an impl or indirectly referencing a lifetime parameter via a projection type (via a `T::Assoc` projection without an explicit trait), since lifetime resolution is performed on the HIR, when neither `T::Assoc`-style projections or `Self` in impls are expanded.

Therefore an error was implemented in rust-lang#62849 to deny this subtle behavior as a known limitation of the compiler. It was attempted by `@cjgillot` to fix this in rust-lang#91403, which was subsequently unlanded. Then it was re-attempted to much success (🎉) in rust-lang#103491, which is where we currently are in the compiler.

The PR above (rust-lang#103491) fixed this issue technically by *not* replacing the opaque's parent lifetimes with `'static`, but instead using variance to properly track which lifetimes are captured and are not. The PR gated any of the "side-effects" of the PR behind a feature gate (`impl_trait_projections`) presumably to avoid having to involve T-lang or T-types in the PR as well. `@cjgillot` can clarify this if I'm misunderstanding what their intention was with the feature gate.

Since we're not replacing (possibly *invariant*!) lifetimes with `'static` anymore, there are no more soundness concerns here. Therefore, this PR removes the feature gate.

Tests:
* `tests/ui/async-await/feature-self-return-type.rs`
* `tests/ui/impl-trait/feature-self-return-type.rs`
* `tests/ui/async-await/issues/issue-78600.rs`
* `tests/ui/impl-trait/capture-lifetime-not-in-hir.rs`

---

r? cjgillot on the impl (not much, just removing the feature gate)

I'm gonna mark this as FCP for T-lang and T-types.
bors added a commit to rust-lang-ci/rust that referenced this pull request Sep 28, 2023
Stabilize `impl_trait_projections`

Closes rust-lang#115659

## TL;DR:

This allows us to mention `Self` and `T::Assoc` in async fn and return-position `impl Trait`, as you would expect you'd be able to.

Some examples:
```rust
#![feature(return_position_impl_trait_in_trait, async_fn_in_trait)]
// (just needed for final tests below)

// ---------------------------------------- //

struct Wrapper<'a, T>(&'a T);

impl Wrapper<'_, ()> {
    async fn async_fn() -> Self {
        //^ Previously rejected because it returns `-> Self`, not `-> Wrapper<'_, ()>`.
        Wrapper(&())
    }

    fn impl_trait() -> impl Iterator<Item = Self> {
        //^ Previously rejected because it mentions `Self`, not `Wrapper<'_, ()>`.
        std::iter::once(Wrapper(&()))
    }
}

// ---------------------------------------- //

trait Trait<'a> {
    type Assoc;
    fn new() -> Self::Assoc;
}
impl Trait<'_> for () {
    type Assoc = ();
    fn new() {}
}

impl<'a, T: Trait<'a>> Wrapper<'a, T> {
    async fn mk_assoc() -> T::Assoc {
        //^ Previously rejected because `T::Assoc` doesn't mention `'a` in the HIR,
        //  but ends up resolving to `<T as Trait<'a>>::Assoc`, which does rely on `'a`.
        // That's the important part -- the elided trait.
        T::new()
    }

    fn a_few_assocs() -> impl Iterator<Item = T::Assoc> {
        //^ Previously rejected for the same reason
        [T::new(), T::new(), T::new()].into_iter()
    }
}

// ---------------------------------------- //

trait InTrait {
    async fn async_fn() -> Self;

    fn impl_trait() -> impl Iterator<Item = Self>;
}

impl InTrait for &() {
    async fn async_fn() -> Self { &() }
    //^ Previously rejected just like inherent impls

    fn impl_trait() -> impl Iterator<Item = Self> {
        //^ Previously rejected just like inherent impls
        [&()].into_iter()
    }
}
```

## Technical:

Lifetimes in return-position `impl Trait` (and `async fn`) are duplicated as early-bound generics local to the opaque in order to make sure we are able to substitute any late-bound lifetimes from the function in the opaque's hidden type. (The [dev guide](https://rustc-dev-guide.rust-lang.org/return-position-impl-trait-in-trait.html#aside-opaque-lifetime-duplication) has a small section about why this is necessary -- this was written for RPITITs, but it applies to all RPITs)

Prior to rust-lang#103491, all of the early-bound lifetimes not local to the opaque were replaced with `'static` to avoid issues where relating opaques caused their *non-captured* lifetimes to be related. This `'static` replacement led to strange and possibly unsound behaviors (rust-lang#61949 (comment)) (rust-lang#53613) when referencing the `Self` type alias in an impl or indirectly referencing a lifetime parameter via a projection type (via a `T::Assoc` projection without an explicit trait), since lifetime resolution is performed on the HIR, when neither `T::Assoc`-style projections or `Self` in impls are expanded.

Therefore an error was implemented in rust-lang#62849 to deny this subtle behavior as a known limitation of the compiler. It was attempted by `@cjgillot` to fix this in rust-lang#91403, which was subsequently unlanded. Then it was re-attempted to much success (🎉) in rust-lang#103491, which is where we currently are in the compiler.

The PR above (rust-lang#103491) fixed this issue technically by *not* replacing the opaque's parent lifetimes with `'static`, but instead using variance to properly track which lifetimes are captured and are not. The PR gated any of the "side-effects" of the PR behind a feature gate (`impl_trait_projections`) presumably to avoid having to involve T-lang or T-types in the PR as well. `@cjgillot` can clarify this if I'm misunderstanding what their intention was with the feature gate.

Since we're not replacing (possibly *invariant*!) lifetimes with `'static` anymore, there are no more soundness concerns here. Therefore, this PR removes the feature gate.

Tests:
* `tests/ui/async-await/feature-self-return-type.rs`
* `tests/ui/impl-trait/feature-self-return-type.rs`
* `tests/ui/async-await/issues/issue-78600.rs`
* `tests/ui/impl-trait/capture-lifetime-not-in-hir.rs`

---

r? cjgillot on the impl (not much, just removing the feature gate)

I'm gonna mark this as FCP for T-lang and T-types.
bors added a commit to rust-lang-ci/rust that referenced this pull request Oct 14, 2023
…jackh726

Stabilize `async fn` and return-position `impl Trait` in trait

# Stabilization report

This report proposes the stabilization of `#![feature(return_position_impl_trait_in_trait)]` ([RPITIT][RFC 3425]) and `#![feature(async_fn_in_trait)]` ([AFIT][RFC 3185]). These are both long awaited features that increase the expressiveness of the Rust language and trait system.

Closes rust-lang#91611

[RFC 3185]: https://rust-lang.github.io/rfcs/3185-static-async-fn-in-trait.html
[RFC 3425]: https://rust-lang.github.io/rfcs/3425-return-position-impl-trait-in-traits.html

## Updates from thread

The thread has covered two major concerns:

* [Given that we don't have RTN, what should we stabilize?](rust-lang#115822 (comment)) -- proposed resolution is [adding a lint](rust-lang#115822 (comment)) and [careful messaging](rust-lang#115822 (comment))
* [Interaction between outlives bounds and capture semantics](rust-lang#115822 (comment)) -- This is fixable in a forwards-compatible way via rust-lang#116040, and also eventually via ATPIT.

## Stabilization Summary

This stabilization allows the following examples to work.

### Example of return-position `impl Trait` in trait definition

```rust
trait Bar {
    fn bar(self) -> impl Send;
}
```

This declares a trait method that returns *some* type that implements `Send`.  It's similar to writing the following using an associated type, except that the associated type is anonymous.

```rust
trait Bar {
    type _0: Send;
    fn bar(self) -> Self::_0;
}
```

### Example of return-position `impl Trait` in trait implementation

```rust
impl Bar for () {
    fn bar(self) -> impl Send {}
}
```

This defines a method implementation that returns an opaque type, just like [RPIT][RFC 1522] does, except that all in-scope lifetimes are captured in the opaque type (as is already true for `async fn` and as is expected to be true for RPIT in Rust Edition 2024), as described below.

[RFC 1522]: https://rust-lang.github.io/rfcs/1522-conservative-impl-trait.html

### Example of `async fn` in trait

```rust
trait Bar {
    async fn bar(self);
}

impl Bar for () {
    async fn bar(self) {}
}
```

This declares a trait method that returns *some* [`Future`](https://doc.rust-lang.org/core/future/trait.Future.html) and a corresponding method implementation.  This is equivalent to writing the following using RPITIT.

```rust
use core::future::Future;

trait Bar {
    fn bar(self) -> impl Future<Output = ()>;
}

impl Bar for () {
    fn bar(self) -> impl Future<Output = ()> { async {} }
}
```

The desirability of this desugaring being available is part of why RPITIT and AFIT are being proposed for stabilization at the same time.

## Motivation

Long ago, Rust added [RPIT][RFC 1522] and [`async`/`await`][RFC 2394].  These are major features that are widely used in the ecosystem.  However, until now, these feature could not be used in *traits* and trait implementations.  This left traits as a kind of second-class citizen of the language.  This stabilization fixes that.

[RFC 2394]: https://rust-lang.github.io/rfcs/2394-async_await.html

### `async fn` in trait

Async/await allows users to write asynchronous code much easier than they could before. However, it doesn't play nice with other core language features that make Rust the great language it is, like traits. Support for `async fn` in traits has been long anticipated and was not added before due to limitations in the compiler that have now been lifted.

`async fn` in traits will unblock a lot of work in the ecosystem and the standard library. It is not currently possible to write a trait that is implemented using `async fn`. The workarounds that exist are undesirable because they require allocation and dynamic dispatch, and any trait that uses them will become obsolete once native `async fn` in trait is stabilized.

We also have ample evidence that there is demand for this feature from the [`async-trait` crate][async-trait], which emulates the feature using dynamic dispatch. The async-trait crate is currently the rust-lang#5 async crate on crates.io ranked by recent downloads, receiving over 78M all-time downloads. According to a [recent analysis][async-trait-analysis], 4% of all crates use the `#[async_trait]` macro it provides, representing 7% of all function and method signatures in trait definitions on crates.io. We think this is a *lower bound* on demand for the feature, because users are unlikely to use `#[async_trait]` on public traits on crates.io for the reasons already given.

[async-trait]: https://crates.io/crates/async-trait
[async-trait-analysis]: https://rust-lang.zulipchat.com/#narrow/stream/315482-t-compiler.2Fetc.2Fopaque-types/topic/RPIT.20capture.20rules.20.28capturing.20everything.29/near/389496292

### Return-position `impl Trait` in trait

`async fn` always desugars to a function that returns `impl Future`.

```rust!
async fn foo() -> i32 { 100 }

// Equivalent to:
fn foo() -> impl Future<Output = i32> { async { 100 } }
```

All `async fn`s today can be rewritten this way. This is useful because it allows adding behavior that runs at the time of the function call, before the first `.await` on the returned future.

In the spirit of supporting the same set of features on `async fn` in traits that we do outside of traits, it makes sense to stabilize this as well. As described by the [RPITIT RFC][rpitit-rfc], this includes the ability to mix and match the equivalent forms in traits and their corresponding impls:

```rust!
trait Foo {
    async fn foo(self) -> i32;
}

// Can be implemented as:
impl Foo for MyType {
    fn foo(self) -> impl Future<Output = i32> {
        async { 100 }
    }
}
```

Return-position `impl Trait` in trait is useful for cases beyond async, just as regular RPIT is. As a simple example, the RFC showed an alternative way of writing the `IntoIterator` trait with one fewer associated type.

```rust!
trait NewIntoIterator {
    type Item;
    fn new_into_iter(self) -> impl Iterator<Item = Self::Item>;
}

impl<T> NewIntoIterator for Vec<T> {
    type Item = T;
    fn new_into_iter(self) -> impl Iterator<Item = T> {
        self.into_iter()
    }
}
```

[rpitit-rfc]: https://rust-lang.github.io/rfcs/3425-return-position-impl-trait-in-traits.html

## Major design decisions

This section describes the major design decisions that were reached after the RFC was accepted:

- EDIT: Lint against async fn in trait definitions

    - Until the [send bound problem](https://smallcultfollowing.com/babysteps/blog/2023/02/01/async-trait-send-bounds-part-1-intro/) is resolved, the use of `async fn` in trait definitions could lead to a bad experience for people using work-stealing executors (by far the most popular choice). However, there are significant use cases for which the current support is all that is needed (single-threaded executors, such as those used in embedded use cases, as well as thread-per-core setups). We are prioritizing serving users well over protecting people from misuse, and therefore, we opt to stabilize the full range of functionality; however, to help steer people correctly, we are will issue a warning on the use of `async fn` in trait definitions that advises users about the limitations. (See [this summary comment](rust-lang#115822 (comment)) for the details of the concern, and [this comment](rust-lang#115822 (comment)) for more details about the reasoning that led to this conclusion.)

- Capture rules:

    - The RFC's initial capture rules for lifetimes in impls/traits were found to be imprecisely precise and to introduce various inconsistencies. After much discussion, the decision was reached to make `-> impl Trait` in traits/impls capture *all* in-scope parameters, including both lifetimes and types. This is a departure from the behavior of RPITs in other contexts; an RFC is currently being authored to change the behavior of RPITs in other contexts in a future edition.

    - Major discussion links:

        - [Lang team design meeting from 2023-07-26](https://hackmd.io/sFaSIMJOQcuwCdnUvCxtuQ?view)

- Refinement:

    - The [refinement RFC] initially proposed that impl signatures that are more specific than their trait are not allowed unless the `#[refine]` attribute was included, but left it as an open question how to implement this. The stabilized proposal is that it is not a hard error to omit `#[refine]`, but there is a lint which fires if the impl's return type is more precise than the trait. This greatly simplified the desugaring and implementation while still achieving the original goal of ensuring that users do not accidentally commit to a more specific return type than they intended.

    - Major discussion links:

        - [Zulip thread](https://rust-lang.zulipchat.com/#narrow/stream/213817-t-lang/topic/.60.23.5Brefine.5D.60.20as.20a.20lint)

[refinement RFC]: https://rust-lang.github.io/rfcs/3245-refined-impls.html

## What is stabilized

### Async functions in traits and trait implementations

* `async fn` are now supported in traits and trait implementations.
* Associated functions in traits that are `async` may have default bodies.

### Return-position impl trait in traits and trait implementations

* Return-position `impl Trait`s are now supported in traits and trait implementations.
    * Return-position `impl Trait` in implementations are treated like regular return-position `impl Trait`s, and therefore behave according to the same inference rules for hidden type inference and well-formedness.
* Associated functions in traits that name return-position `impl Trait`s may have default bodies.
* Implementations may provide either concrete types or `impl Trait` for each corresponding `impl Trait` in the trait method signature.

For a detailed exploration of the technical implementation of return-position `impl Trait` in traits, see [the dev guide](https://rustc-dev-guide.rust-lang.org/return-position-impl-trait-in-trait.html).

### Mixing `async fn` in trait and return-position `impl Trait` in trait

A trait function declaration that is `async fn ..() -> T` may be satisfied by an implementation function that returns `impl Future<Output = T>`, or vice versa.

```rust
trait Async {
    async fn hello();
}

impl Async for () {
    fn hello() -> impl Future<Output = ()> {
        async {}
    }
}

trait RPIT {
    fn hello() -> impl Future<Output = String>;
}

impl RPIT for () {
    async fn hello() -> String {
        "hello".to_string()
    }
}
```

### Return-position `impl Trait` in traits and trait implementations capture all in-scope lifetimes

Described above in "major design decisions".

### Return-position `impl Trait` in traits are "always revealing"

When a trait uses `-> impl Trait` in return position, it logically desugars to an associated type that represents the return (the actual implementation in the compiler is different, as described below). The value of this associated type is determined by the actual return type written in the impl; if the impl also uses `-> impl Trait` as the return type, then the value of the associated type is an opaque type scoped to the impl method (similar to what you would get when calling an inherent function returning `-> impl Trait`). As with any associated type, the value of this special associated type can be revealed by the compiler if the compiler can figure out what impl is being used.

For example, given this trait:

```rust
trait AsDebug {
    fn as_debug(&self) -> impl Debug;
}
```

A function working with the trait generically is only able to see that the return value is `Debug`:

```rust
fn foo<T: AsDebug>(t: &T) {
    let u = t.as_debug();
    println!("{}", u); // ERROR: `u` is not known to implement `Display`
}
```

But if a function calls `as_debug` on a known type (say, `u32`), it may be able to resolve the return type more specifically, if that implementation specifies a concrete type as well:

```rust
impl AsDebug for u32 {
    fn as_debug(&self) -> u32 {
        *self
    }
}

fn foo(t: &u32) {
    let u: u32 = t.as_debug(); // OK!
    println!("{}",  t.as_debug()); // ALSO OK (since `u32: Display`).
}
```

The return type used in the impl therefore represents a **semver binding** promise from the impl author that the return type of `<u32 as AsDebug>::as_debug` will not change. This could come as a surprise to users, who might expect that they are free to change the return type to any other type that implements `Debug`. To address this, we include a [`refining_impl_trait` lint](rust-lang#115582) that warns if the impl uses a specific type -- the `impl AsDebug for u32` above, for example, would toggle the lint.

The lint message explains what is going on and encourages users to `allow` the lint to indicate that they meant to refine the return type:

```rust
impl AsDebug for u32 {
    #[allow(refining_impl_trait)]
    fn as_debug(&self) -> u32 {
        *self
    }
}
```

[RFC rust-lang#3245](rust-lang/rfcs#3245) proposed a new attribute, `#[refine]`, that could also be used to "opt-in" to refinements like this (and which would then silence the lint). That RFC is not currently implemented -- the `#[refine]` attribute is also expected to reveal other details from the signature and has not yet been fully implemented.

### Return-position `impl Trait` and `async fn` in traits are opted-out of object safety checks when the parent function has `Self: Sized`

```rust
trait IsObjectSafe {
    fn rpit() -> impl Sized where Self: Sized;
    async fn afit() where Self: Sized;
}
```

Traits that mention return-position `impl Trait` or `async fn` in trait when the associated function includes a `Self: Sized` bound will remain object safe. That is because the associated function that defines them will be opted-out of the vtable of the trait, and the associated types will be unnameable from any trait object.

This can alternatively be seen as a consequence of rust-lang#112319 (comment) and the desugaring of return-position `impl Trait` in traits to associated types which inherit the where-clauses of the associated function that defines them.

## What isn't stabilized (aka, potential future work)

### Dynamic dispatch

As stabilized, traits containing RPITIT and AFIT are **not dyn compatible**. This means that you cannot create `dyn Trait` objects from them and can only use static dispatch. The reason for this limitation is that dynamic dispatch support for RPITIT and AFIT is more complex than static dispatch, as described on the [async fundamentals page](https://rust-lang.github.io/async-fundamentals-initiative/evaluation/challenges/dyn_traits.html). The primary challenge to using `dyn Trait` in today's Rust is that **`dyn Trait` today must list the values of all associated types**. This means you would have to write `dyn for<'s> Trait<Foo<'s> = XXX>` where `XXX` is the future type defined by the impl, such as `F_A`. This is not only verbose (or impossible), it also uniquely ties the `dyn Trait` to a particular impl, defeating the whole point of `dyn Trait`.

The precise design for handling dynamic dispatch is not yet determined. Top candidates include:

- [callee site selection][], in which we permit unsized return values so that the return type for an `-> impl Foo` method be can be `dyn Foo`, but then users must specify the type of wide pointer at the call-site in some fashion.

- [`dyn*`][], where we create a built-in encapsulation of a "wide pointer" and map the associated type corresponding to an RPITIT to the corresponding `dyn*` type (`dyn*` itself is not exposed to users as a type in this proposal, though that could be a future extension).

[callee site selection]: https://smallcultfollowing.com/babysteps/blog/2022/09/21/dyn-async-traits-part-9-callee-site-selection/

[`dyn*`]: https://smallcultfollowing.com/babysteps/blog/2022/03/29/dyn-can-we-make-dyn-sized/

### Where-clause bounds on return-position `impl Trait` in traits or async futures (RTN/ART)

One limitation of async fn in traits and RPITIT as stabilized is that there is no way for users to write code that adds additional bounds beyond those listed in the `-> impl Trait`. The most common example is wanting to write a generic function that requires that the future returned from an `async fn` be `Send`:

```rust
trait Greet {
    async fn greet(&self);
}

fn greet_in_parallel<G: Greet>(g: &G) {
    runtime::spawn(async move {
        g.greet().await; //~ ERROR: future returned by `greet` may not be `Send`
    })
}
```

Currently, since the associated types added for the return type are anonymous, there is no where-clause that could be added to make this code compile.

There have been various proposals for how to address this problem (e.g., [return type notation][rtn] or having an annotation to give a name to the associated type), but we leave the selection of one of those mechanisms to future work.

[rtn]: https://smallcultfollowing.com/babysteps/blog/2023/02/13/return-type-notation-send-bounds-part-2/

In the meantime, there are workarounds that one can use to address this problem, listed below.

#### Require all futures to be `Send`

For many users, the trait may only ever be used with `Send` futures, in which case one can write an explicit `impl Future + Send`:

```rust
trait Greet {
    fn greet(&self) -> impl Future<Output = ()> + Send;
}
```

The nice thing about this is that it is still compatible with using `async fn` in the trait impl. In the async working group case studies, we found that this could work for the [builder provider API](https://rust-lang.github.io/async-fundamentals-initiative/evaluation/case-studies/builder-provider-api.html). This is also the default approach used by the `#[async_trait]` crate which, as we have noted, has seen widespread adoption.

#### Avoid generics

This problem only applies when the `Self` type is generic. If the `Self` type is known, then the precise return type from an `async fn` is revealed, and the `Send` bound can be inferred thanks to auto-trait leakage. Even in cases where generics may appear to be required, it is sometimes possible to rewrite the code to avoid them. The [socket handler refactor](https://rust-lang.github.io/async-fundamentals-initiative/evaluation/case-studies/socket-handler.html) case study provides one such example.

### Unify capture behavior for `-> impl Trait` in inherent methods and traits

As stabilized, the capture behavior for `-> impl Trait` in a trait (whether as part of an async fn or a RPITIT) captures all types and lifetimes, whereas the existing behavior for inherent methods only captures types and lifetimes that are explicitly referenced. Capturing all lifetimes in traits was necessary to avoid various surprising inconsistencies; the expressed intent of the lang team is to extend that behavior so that we also capture all lifetimes in inherent methods, which would create more consistency and also address a common source of user confusion, but that will have to happen over the 2024 edition. The RFC is in progress. Should we opt not to accept that RFC, we can bring the capture behavior for `-> impl Trait` into alignment in other ways as part of the 2024 edition.

### `impl_trait_projections`

Orthgonal to `async_fn_in_trait` and `return_position_impl_trait_in_trait`, since it can be triggered on stable code. This will be stabilized separately in [rust-lang#115659](rust-lang#115659).

<details>
If we try to write this code without `impl_trait_projections`, we will get an error:

```rust
#![feature(async_fn_in_trait)]

trait Foo {
    type Error;
    async fn foo(&mut self) -> Result<(), Self::Error>;
}

impl<T: Foo> Foo for &mut T {
    type Error = T::Error;
    async fn foo(&mut self) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
        T::foo(self).await
    }
}
```

The error relates to the use of `Self` in a trait impl when the self type has a lifetime. It can be worked around by rewriting the impl not to use `Self`:

```rust
#![feature(async_fn_in_trait)]

trait Foo {
    type Error;
    async fn foo(&mut self) -> Result<(), Self::Error>;
}

impl<T: Foo> Foo for &mut T {
    type Error = T::Error;
    async fn foo(&mut self) -> Result<(), <&mut T as Foo>::Error> {
        T::foo(self).await
    }
}
```
</details>

## Tests

Tests are generally organized between return-position `impl Trait` and `async fn` in trait, when the distinction matters.
* RPITIT: https://github.com/rust-lang/rust/tree/master/tests/ui/impl-trait/in-trait
* AFIT: https://github.com/rust-lang/rust/tree/master/tests/ui/async-await/in-trait

## Remaining bugs and open issues

* rust-lang#112047: Indirection introduced by `async fn` and return-position `impl Trait` in traits may hide cycles in opaque types, causing overflow errors that can only be discovered by monomorphization.
* rust-lang#111105 - `async fn` in trait is susceptible to issues with checking auto traits on futures' generators, like regular `async`. This is a manifestation of rust-lang#110338.
    * This was deemed not blocking because fixing it is forwards-compatible, and regular `async` is subject to the same issues.
* rust-lang#104689: `async fn` and return-position `impl Trait` in trait requires the late-bound lifetimes in a trait and impl function signature to be equal.
    * This can be relaxed in the future with a smarter lexical region resolution algorithm.
* rust-lang#102527: Nesting return-position `impl Trait` in trait deeply may result in slow compile times.
    * This has only been reported once, and can be fixed in the future.
* rust-lang#108362: Inference between return types and generics of a function may have difficulties when there's an `.await`.
    * This isn't related to AFIT (rust-lang#108362 (comment)) -- using traits does mean that there's possibly easier ways to hit it.
* rust-lang#112626: Because `async fn` and return-position `impl Trait` in traits lower to associated types, users may encounter strange behaviors when implementing circularly dependent traits.
    * This is not specific to RPITIT, and is a limitation of associated types: rust-lang#112626 (comment)
* **(Nightly)** rust-lang#108309: `async fn` and return-position `impl Trait` in trait do not support specialization. This was deemed not blocking, since it can be fixed in the future (e.g. rust-lang#108321) and specialization is a nightly feature.

#### (Nightly) Return type notation bugs

RTN is not being stabilized here, but there are some interesting outstanding bugs. None of them are blockers for AFIT/RPITIT, but I'm noting them for completeness.

<details>

* rust-lang#109924 is a bug that occurs when a higher-ranked trait bound has both inference variables and associated types. This is pre-existing -- RTN just gives you a more convenient way of producing them. This should be fixed by the new trait solver.
* rust-lang#109924 is a manifestation of a more general issue with `async` and auto-trait bounds: rust-lang#110338. RTN does not cause this issue, just allows us to put `Send` bounds on the anonymous futures that we have in traits.
* rust-lang#112569 is a bug similar to associated type bounds, where nested bounds are not implied correctly.

</details>

## Alternatives

### Do nothing

We could choose not to stabilize these features. Users that can use the `#[async_trait]` macro would continue to do so. Library maintainers would continue to avoid async functions in traits, potentially blocking the stable release of many useful crates.

### Stabilize `impl Trait` in associated type instead

AFIT and RPITIT solve the problem of returning unnameable types from trait methods. It is also possible to solve this by using another unstable feature, `impl Trait` in an associated type. Users would need to define an associated type in both the trait and trait impl:

```rust!
trait Foo {
    type Fut<'a>: Future<Output = i32> where Self: 'a;
    fn foo(&self) -> Self::Fut<'_>;
}

impl Foo for MyType {
    type Fut<'a> where Self: 'a = impl Future<Output = i32>;
    fn foo(&self) -> Self::Fut<'_> {
        async { 42 }
    }
}
```

This also has the advantage of allowing generic code to bound the associated type. However, it is substantially less ergonomic than either `async fn` or `-> impl Future`, and users still expect to be able to use those features in traits. **Even if this feature were stable, we would still want to stabilize AFIT and RPITIT.**

That said, we can have both. `impl Trait` in associated types is desireable because it can be used in existing traits with explicit associated types, among other reasons. We *should* stabilize this feature once it is ready, but that's outside the scope of this proposal.

### Use the old capture semantics for RPITIT

We could choose to make the capture rules for RPITIT consistent with the existing rules for RPIT. However, there was strong consensus in a recent [lang team meeting](https://hackmd.io/sFaSIMJOQcuwCdnUvCxtuQ?view) that we should *change* these rules, and furthermore that new features should adopt the new rules.

This is consistent with the tenet in RFC 3085 of favoring ["Uniform behavior across editions"](https://rust-lang.github.io/rfcs/3085-edition-2021.html#uniform-behavior-across-editions) when possible. It greatly reduces the complexity of the feature by not requiring us to answer, or implement, the design questions that arise out of the interaction between the current capture rules and traits. This reduction in complexity – and eventual technical debt – is exactly in line with the motivation listed in the aforementioned RFC.

### Make refinement a hard error

Refinement (`refining_impl_trait`) is only a concern for library authors, and therefore doesn't really warrant making into a deny-by-default warning or an error.

Additionally, refinement is currently checked via a lint that compares bounds in the `impl Trait`s in the trait and impl syntactically. This is good enough for a warning that can be opted-out, but not if this were a hard error, which would ideally be implemented using fully semantic, implicational logic. This was implemented (rust-lang#111931), but also is an unnecessary burden on the type system for little pay-off.

## History

- Dec 7, 2021: [RFC rust-lang#3185: Static async fn in traits](https://rust-lang.github.io/rfcs/3185-static-async-fn-in-trait.html) merged
- Sep 9, 2022: [Initial implementation](rust-lang#101224) of AFIT and RPITIT landed
- Jun 13, 2023: [RFC rust-lang#3425: Return position `impl Trait` in traits](https://rust-lang.github.io/rfcs/3425-return-position-impl-trait-in-traits.html) merged

<!--These will render pretty when pasted into github-->
Non-exhaustive list of PRs that are particularly relevant to the implementation:

- rust-lang#101224
- rust-lang#103491
- rust-lang#104592
- rust-lang#108141
- rust-lang#108319
- rust-lang#108672
- rust-lang#112988
- rust-lang#113182 (later made redundant by rust-lang#114489)
- rust-lang#113215
- rust-lang#114489
- rust-lang#115467
- rust-lang#115582

Doc co-authored by `@nikomatsakis,` `@tmandry,` `@traviscross.` Thanks also to `@spastorino,` `@cjgillot` (for changes to opaque captures!), `@oli-obk` for many reviews, and many other contributors and issue-filers. Apologies if I left your name off 😺
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