blob: bf2d54938b99fc52ac877a189ecd504b10e56cbf [file] [log] [blame] [edit]
<!DOCTYPE HTML>
<html lang="en" class="light sidebar-visible" dir="ltr">
<head>
<!-- Book generated using mdBook -->
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>Name resolution - Rust Compiler Development Guide</title>
<!-- Custom HTML head -->
<meta name="description" content="A guide to developing the Rust compiler (rustc)">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<meta name="theme-color" content="#ffffff">
<link rel="icon" href="favicon-de23e50b.svg">
<link rel="shortcut icon" href="favicon-8114d1fc.png">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="css/variables-8adf115d.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="css/general-2459343d.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="css/chrome-ae938929.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="css/print-9e4910d8.css" media="print">
<!-- Fonts -->
<link rel="stylesheet" href="fonts/fonts-9644e21d.css">
<!-- Highlight.js Stylesheets -->
<link rel="stylesheet" id="mdbook-highlight-css" href="highlight-493f70e1.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" id="mdbook-tomorrow-night-css" href="tomorrow-night-4c0ae647.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" id="mdbook-ayu-highlight-css" href="ayu-highlight-3fdfc3ac.css">
<!-- Custom theme stylesheets -->
<!-- Provide site root and default themes to javascript -->
<script>
const path_to_root = "";
const default_light_theme = "light";
const default_dark_theme = "navy";
window.path_to_searchindex_js = "searchindex-a3921cfd.js";
</script>
<!-- Start loading toc.js asap -->
<script src="toc-190e7008.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
<div id="mdbook-help-container">
<div id="mdbook-help-popup">
<h2 class="mdbook-help-title">Keyboard shortcuts</h2>
<div>
<p>Press <kbd></kbd> or <kbd></kbd> to navigate between chapters</p>
<p>Press <kbd>S</kbd> or <kbd>/</kbd> to search in the book</p>
<p>Press <kbd>?</kbd> to show this help</p>
<p>Press <kbd>Esc</kbd> to hide this help</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="mdbook-body-container">
<!-- Work around some values being stored in localStorage wrapped in quotes -->
<script>
try {
let theme = localStorage.getItem('mdbook-theme');
let sidebar = localStorage.getItem('mdbook-sidebar');
if (theme.startsWith('"') && theme.endsWith('"')) {
localStorage.setItem('mdbook-theme', theme.slice(1, theme.length - 1));
}
if (sidebar.startsWith('"') && sidebar.endsWith('"')) {
localStorage.setItem('mdbook-sidebar', sidebar.slice(1, sidebar.length - 1));
}
} catch (e) { }
</script>
<!-- Set the theme before any content is loaded, prevents flash -->
<script>
const default_theme = window.matchMedia("(prefers-color-scheme: dark)").matches ? default_dark_theme : default_light_theme;
let theme;
try { theme = localStorage.getItem('mdbook-theme'); } catch(e) { }
if (theme === null || theme === undefined) { theme = default_theme; }
const html = document.documentElement;
html.classList.remove('light')
html.classList.add(theme);
html.classList.add("js");
</script>
<input type="checkbox" id="mdbook-sidebar-toggle-anchor" class="hidden">
<!-- Hide / unhide sidebar before it is displayed -->
<script>
let sidebar = null;
const sidebar_toggle = document.getElementById("mdbook-sidebar-toggle-anchor");
if (document.body.clientWidth >= 1080) {
try { sidebar = localStorage.getItem('mdbook-sidebar'); } catch(e) { }
sidebar = sidebar || 'visible';
} else {
sidebar = 'hidden';
sidebar_toggle.checked = false;
}
if (sidebar === 'visible') {
sidebar_toggle.checked = true;
} else {
html.classList.remove('sidebar-visible');
}
</script>
<nav id="mdbook-sidebar" class="sidebar" aria-label="Table of contents">
<!-- populated by js -->
<mdbook-sidebar-scrollbox class="sidebar-scrollbox"></mdbook-sidebar-scrollbox>
<noscript>
<iframe class="sidebar-iframe-outer" src="toc.html"></iframe>
</noscript>
<div id="mdbook-sidebar-resize-handle" class="sidebar-resize-handle">
<div class="sidebar-resize-indicator"></div>
</div>
</nav>
<div id="mdbook-page-wrapper" class="page-wrapper">
<div class="page">
<div id="mdbook-menu-bar-hover-placeholder"></div>
<div id="mdbook-menu-bar" class="menu-bar sticky">
<div class="left-buttons">
<label id="mdbook-sidebar-toggle" class="icon-button" for="mdbook-sidebar-toggle-anchor" title="Toggle Table of Contents" aria-label="Toggle Table of Contents" aria-controls="mdbook-sidebar">
<span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 448 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M0 96C0 78.3 14.3 64 32 64H416c17.7 0 32 14.3 32 32s-14.3 32-32 32H32C14.3 128 0 113.7 0 96zM0 256c0-17.7 14.3-32 32-32H416c17.7 0 32 14.3 32 32s-14.3 32-32 32H32c-17.7 0-32-14.3-32-32zM448 416c0 17.7-14.3 32-32 32H32c-17.7 0-32-14.3-32-32s14.3-32 32-32H416c17.7 0 32 14.3 32 32z"/></svg></span>
</label>
<button id="mdbook-theme-toggle" class="icon-button" type="button" title="Change theme" aria-label="Change theme" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="mdbook-theme-list">
<span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 576 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M371.3 367.1c27.3-3.9 51.9-19.4 67.2-42.9L600.2 74.1c12.6-19.5 9.4-45.3-7.6-61.2S549.7-4.4 531.1 9.6L294.4 187.2c-24 18-38.2 46.1-38.4 76.1L371.3 367.1zm-19.6 25.4l-116-104.4C175.9 290.3 128 339.6 128 400c0 3.9 .2 7.8 .6 11.6c1.8 17.5-10.2 36.4-27.8 36.4H96c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32H240c61.9 0 112-50.1 112-112c0-2.5-.1-5-.2-7.5z"/></svg></span>
</button>
<ul id="mdbook-theme-list" class="theme-popup" aria-label="Themes" role="menu">
<li role="none"><button role="menuitem" class="theme" id="mdbook-theme-default_theme">Auto</button></li>
<li role="none"><button role="menuitem" class="theme" id="mdbook-theme-light">Light</button></li>
<li role="none"><button role="menuitem" class="theme" id="mdbook-theme-rust">Rust</button></li>
<li role="none"><button role="menuitem" class="theme" id="mdbook-theme-coal">Coal</button></li>
<li role="none"><button role="menuitem" class="theme" id="mdbook-theme-navy">Navy</button></li>
<li role="none"><button role="menuitem" class="theme" id="mdbook-theme-ayu">Ayu</button></li>
</ul>
<button id="mdbook-search-toggle" class="icon-button" type="button" title="Search (`/`)" aria-label="Toggle Searchbar" aria-expanded="false" aria-keyshortcuts="/ s" aria-controls="mdbook-searchbar">
<span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M416 208c0 45.9-14.9 88.3-40 122.7L502.6 457.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3s-32.8 12.5-45.3 0L330.7 376c-34.4 25.2-76.8 40-122.7 40C93.1 416 0 322.9 0 208S93.1 0 208 0S416 93.1 416 208zM208 352c79.5 0 144-64.5 144-144s-64.5-144-144-144S64 128.5 64 208s64.5 144 144 144z"/></svg></span>
</button>
</div>
<h1 class="menu-title">Rust Compiler Development Guide</h1>
<div class="right-buttons">
<a href="print.html" title="Print this book" aria-label="Print this book">
<span class=fa-svg id="print-button"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M128 0C92.7 0 64 28.7 64 64v96h64V64H354.7L384 93.3V160h64V93.3c0-17-6.7-33.3-18.7-45.3L400 18.7C388 6.7 371.7 0 354.7 0H128zM384 352v32 64H128V384 368 352H384zm64 32h32c17.7 0 32-14.3 32-32V256c0-35.3-28.7-64-64-64H64c-35.3 0-64 28.7-64 64v96c0 17.7 14.3 32 32 32H64v64c0 35.3 28.7 64 64 64H384c35.3 0 64-28.7 64-64V384zm-16-88c-13.3 0-24-10.7-24-24s10.7-24 24-24s24 10.7 24 24s-10.7 24-24 24z"/></svg></span>
</a>
<a href="https://github.com/rust-lang/rustc-dev-guide" title="Git repository" aria-label="Git repository">
<span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 496 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M165.9 397.4c0 2-2.3 3.6-5.2 3.6-3.3.3-5.6-1.3-5.6-3.6 0-2 2.3-3.6 5.2-3.6 3-.3 5.6 1.3 5.6 3.6zm-31.1-4.5c-.7 2 1.3 4.3 4.3 4.9 2.6 1 5.6 0 6.2-2s-1.3-4.3-4.3-5.2c-2.6-.7-5.5.3-6.2 2.3zm44.2-1.7c-2.9.7-4.9 2.6-4.6 4.9.3 2 2.9 3.3 5.9 2.6 2.9-.7 4.9-2.6 4.6-4.6-.3-1.9-3-3.2-5.9-2.9zM244.8 8C106.1 8 0 113.3 0 252c0 110.9 69.8 205.8 169.5 239.2 12.8 2.3 17.3-5.6 17.3-12.1 0-6.2-.3-40.4-.3-61.4 0 0-70 15-84.7-29.8 0 0-11.4-29.1-27.8-36.6 0 0-22.9-15.7 1.6-15.4 0 0 24.9 2 38.6 25.8 21.9 38.6 58.6 27.5 72.9 20.9 2.3-16 8.8-27.1 16-33.7-55.9-6.2-112.3-14.3-112.3-110.5 0-27.5 7.6-41.3 23.6-58.9-2.6-6.5-11.1-33.3 2.6-67.9 20.9-6.5 69 27 69 27 20-5.6 41.5-8.5 62.8-8.5s42.8 2.9 62.8 8.5c0 0 48.1-33.6 69-27 13.7 34.7 5.2 61.4 2.6 67.9 16 17.7 25.8 31.5 25.8 58.9 0 96.5-58.9 104.2-114.8 110.5 9.2 7.9 17 22.9 17 46.4 0 33.7-.3 75.4-.3 83.6 0 6.5 4.6 14.4 17.3 12.1C428.2 457.8 496 362.9 496 252 496 113.3 383.5 8 244.8 8zM97.2 352.9c-1.3 1-1 3.3.7 5.2 1.6 1.6 3.9 2.3 5.2 1 1.3-1 1-3.3-.7-5.2-1.6-1.6-3.9-2.3-5.2-1zm-10.8-8.1c-.7 1.3.3 2.9 2.3 3.9 1.6 1 3.6.7 4.3-.7.7-1.3-.3-2.9-2.3-3.9-2-.6-3.6-.3-4.3.7zm32.4 35.6c-1.6 1.3-1 4.3 1.3 6.2 2.3 2.3 5.2 2.6 6.5 1 1.3-1.3.7-4.3-1.3-6.2-2.2-2.3-5.2-2.6-6.5-1zm-11.4-14.7c-1.6 1-1.6 3.6 0 5.9 1.6 2.3 4.3 3.3 5.6 2.3 1.6-1.3 1.6-3.9 0-6.2-1.4-2.3-4-3.3-5.6-2z"/></svg></span>
</a>
<a href="https://github.com/rust-lang/rustc-dev-guide/edit/main/src/name-resolution.md" title="Suggest an edit" aria-label="Suggest an edit" rel="edit">
<span class=fa-svg id="git-edit-button"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M421.7 220.3l-11.3 11.3-22.6 22.6-205 205c-6.6 6.6-14.8 11.5-23.8 14.1L30.8 511c-8.4 2.5-17.5 .2-23.7-6.1S-1.5 489.7 1 481.2L38.7 353.1c2.6-9 7.5-17.2 14.1-23.8l205-205 22.6-22.6 11.3-11.3 33.9 33.9 62.1 62.1 33.9 33.9zM96 353.9l-9.3 9.3c-.9 .9-1.6 2.1-2 3.4l-25.3 86 86-25.3c1.3-.4 2.5-1.1 3.4-2l9.3-9.3H112c-8.8 0-16-7.2-16-16V353.9zM453.3 19.3l39.4 39.4c25 25 25 65.5 0 90.5l-14.5 14.5-22.6 22.6-11.3 11.3-33.9-33.9-62.1-62.1L314.3 67.7l11.3-11.3 22.6-22.6 14.5-14.5c25-25 65.5-25 90.5 0z"/></svg></span>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div id="mdbook-search-wrapper" class="hidden">
<form id="mdbook-searchbar-outer" class="searchbar-outer">
<div class="search-wrapper">
<input type="search" id="mdbook-searchbar" name="searchbar" placeholder="Search this book ..." aria-controls="mdbook-searchresults-outer" aria-describedby="searchresults-header">
<div class="spinner-wrapper">
<span class=fa-svg id="fa-spin"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M304 48c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48s-48 21.5-48 48s21.5 48 48 48s48-21.5 48-48zm0 416c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48s-48 21.5-48 48s21.5 48 48 48s48-21.5 48-48zM48 304c26.5 0 48-21.5 48-48s-21.5-48-48-48s-48 21.5-48 48s21.5 48 48 48zm464-48c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48s-48 21.5-48 48s21.5 48 48 48s48-21.5 48-48zM142.9 437c18.7-18.7 18.7-49.1 0-67.9s-49.1-18.7-67.9 0s-18.7 49.1 0 67.9s49.1 18.7 67.9 0zm0-294.2c18.7-18.7 18.7-49.1 0-67.9S93.7 56.2 75 75s-18.7 49.1 0 67.9s49.1 18.7 67.9 0zM369.1 437c18.7 18.7 49.1 18.7 67.9 0s18.7-49.1 0-67.9s-49.1-18.7-67.9 0s-18.7 49.1 0 67.9z"/></svg></span>
</div>
</div>
</form>
<div id="mdbook-searchresults-outer" class="searchresults-outer hidden">
<div id="mdbook-searchresults-header" class="searchresults-header"></div>
<ul id="mdbook-searchresults">
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<!-- Apply ARIA attributes after the sidebar and the sidebar toggle button are added to the DOM -->
<script>
document.getElementById('mdbook-sidebar-toggle').setAttribute('aria-expanded', sidebar === 'visible');
document.getElementById('mdbook-sidebar').setAttribute('aria-hidden', sidebar !== 'visible');
Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('#mdbook-sidebar a')).forEach(function(link) {
link.setAttribute('tabIndex', sidebar === 'visible' ? 0 : -1);
});
</script>
<div id="mdbook-content" class="content">
<main>
<h1 id="name-resolution"><a class="header" href="#name-resolution">Name resolution</a></h1>
<p>In the previous chapters, we saw how the <a href="./ast-validation.html"><em>Abstract Syntax Tree</em> (<code>AST</code>)</a>
is built with all macros expanded. We saw how doing that requires doing some
name resolution to resolve imports and macro names. In this chapter, we show
how this is actually done and more.</p>
<p>In fact, we don’t do full name resolution during macro expansion – we only
resolve imports and macros at that time. This is required to know what to even
expand. Later, after we have the whole AST, we do full name resolution to
resolve all names in the crate. This happens in <a href="https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/nightly-rustc/rustc_resolve/late/index.html"><code>rustc_resolve::late</code></a>.
Unlike during macro expansion, in this late expansion, we only need to try to
resolve a name once, since no new names can be added. If we fail to resolve a
name, then it is a compiler error.</p>
<p>Name resolution is complex. There are different namespaces (e.g.
macros, values, types, lifetimes), and names may be valid at different (nested)
scopes. Also, different types of names can fail resolution differently, and
failures can happen differently at different scopes. For example, in a module
scope, failure means no unexpanded macros and no unresolved glob imports in
that module. On the other hand, in a function body scope, failure requires that a
name be absent from the block we are in, all outer scopes, and the global
scope.</p>
<h2 id="basics"><a class="header" href="#basics">Basics</a></h2>
<p>In our programs we refer to variables, types, functions, etc, by giving them
a name. These names are not always unique. For example, take this valid Rust
program:</p>
<pre class="playground"><code class="language-rust"><span class="boring">#![allow(unused)]
</span><span class="boring">fn main() {
</span>type x = u32;
let x: x = 1;
let y: x = 2;
<span class="boring">}</span></code></pre>
<p>How do we know on line 3 whether <code>x</code> is a type (<code>u32</code>) or a value (1)? These
conflicts are resolved during name resolution. In this specific case, name
resolution defines that type names and variable names live in separate
namespaces and therefore can co-exist.</p>
<p>The name resolution in Rust is a two-phase process. In the first phase, which runs
during <code>macro</code> expansion, we build a tree of modules and resolve imports. Macro
expansion and name resolution communicate with each other via the
<a href="https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/nightly-rustc/rustc_ast_lowering/trait.ResolverAstLoweringExt.html"><code>ResolverAstLoweringExt</code></a> trait.</p>
<p>The input to the second phase is the syntax tree, produced by parsing input
files and expanding <code>macros</code>. This phase produces links from all the names in the
source to relevant places where the name was introduced. It also generates
helpful error messages, like typo suggestions, traits to import or lints about
unused items.</p>
<p>A successful run of the second phase (<a href="https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/nightly-rustc/rustc_resolve/struct.Resolver.html#method.resolve_crate"><code>Resolver::resolve_crate</code></a>) creates kind
of an index the rest of the compilation may use to ask about the present names
(through the <code>hir::lowering::Resolver</code> interface).</p>
<p>The name resolution lives in the <a href="https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/nightly-rustc/rustc_resolve/index.html"><code>rustc_resolve</code></a> crate, with the bulk in
<code>lib.rs</code> and some helpers or symbol-type specific logic in the other modules.</p>
<h2 id="namespaces"><a class="header" href="#namespaces">Namespaces</a></h2>
<p>Different kind of symbols live in different namespaces ‒ e.g. types don’t
clash with variables. This usually doesn’t happen, because variables start with
lower-case letter while types with upper-case one, but this is only a
convention. This is legal Rust code that will compile (with warnings):</p>
<pre class="playground"><code class="language-rust"><span class="boring">#![allow(unused)]
</span><span class="boring">fn main() {
</span>type x = u32;
let x: x = 1;
let y: x = 2; // See? x is still a type here.
<span class="boring">}</span></code></pre>
<p>To cope with this, and with slightly different scoping rules for these
namespaces, the resolver keeps them separated and builds separate structures for
them.</p>
<p>In other words, when the code talks about namespaces, it doesn’t mean the module
hierarchy, it’s types vs. values vs. macros.</p>
<h2 id="scopes-and-ribs"><a class="header" href="#scopes-and-ribs">Scopes and ribs</a></h2>
<p>A name is visible only in certain area in the source code. This forms a
hierarchical structure, but not necessarily a simple one ‒ if one scope is
part of another, it doesn’t mean a name visible in the outer scope is also
visible in the inner scope, or that it refers to the same thing.</p>
<p>To cope with that, the compiler introduces the concept of <a href="https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/nightly-rustc/rustc_resolve/late/struct.Rib.html"><code>Rib</code></a>s. This is
an abstraction of a scope. Every time the set of visible names potentially changes,
a new <a href="https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/nightly-rustc/rustc_resolve/late/struct.Rib.html"><code>Rib</code></a> is pushed onto a stack. The places where this can happen include for
example:</p>
<ul>
<li>The obvious places ‒ curly braces enclosing a block, function boundaries,
modules.</li>
<li>Introducing a <code>let</code> binding ‒ this can shadow another binding with the same
name.</li>
<li>Macro expansion border ‒ to cope with macro hygiene.</li>
</ul>
<p>When searching for a name, the stack of <a href="https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/nightly-rustc/rustc_resolve/late/struct.LateResolutionVisitor.html#structfield.ribs"><code>ribs</code></a> is traversed from the innermost
outwards. This helps to find the closest meaning of the name (the one not
shadowed by anything else). The transition to outer <a href="https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/nightly-rustc/rustc_resolve/late/struct.Rib.html"><code>Rib</code></a> may also affect
what names are usable ‒ if there are nested functions (not closures),
the inner one can’t access parameters and local bindings of the outer one,
even though they should be visible by ordinary scoping rules. An example:</p>
<pre class="playground"><code class="language-rust"><span class="boring">#![allow(unused)]
</span><span class="boring">fn main() {
</span>fn do_something&lt;T: Default&gt;(val: T) { // &lt;- New rib in both types and values (1)
// `val` is accessible, as is the helper function
// `T` is accessible
let helper = || { // New rib on the block (2)
// `val` is accessible here
}; // End of (2), new rib on `helper` (3)
// `val` is accessible, `helper` variable shadows `helper` function
fn helper() { // &lt;- New rib in both types and values (4)
// `val` is not accessible here, (4) is not transparent for locals
// `T` is not accessible here
} // End of (4)
let val = T::default(); // New rib (5)
// `val` is the variable, not the parameter here
} // End of (5), (3) and (1)
<span class="boring">}</span></code></pre>
<p>Because the rules for different namespaces are a bit different, each namespace
has its own independent <a href="https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/nightly-rustc/rustc_resolve/late/struct.Rib.html"><code>Rib</code></a> stack that is constructed in parallel to the others.
In addition, there’s also a <a href="https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/nightly-rustc/rustc_resolve/late/struct.Rib.html"><code>Rib</code></a> stack for local labels (e.g. names of loops or
blocks), which isn’t a full namespace in its own right.</p>
<h2 id="overall-strategy"><a class="header" href="#overall-strategy">Overall strategy</a></h2>
<p>To perform the name resolution of the whole crate, the syntax tree is traversed
top-down and every encountered name is resolved. This works for most kinds of
names, because at the point of use of a name it is already introduced in the <a href="https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/nightly-rustc/rustc_resolve/late/struct.Rib.html"><code>Rib</code></a>
hierarchy.</p>
<p>There are some exceptions to this. Items are bit tricky, because they can be
used even before encountered ‒ therefore every block needs to be first scanned
for items to fill in its <a href="https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/nightly-rustc/rustc_resolve/late/struct.Rib.html"><code>Rib</code></a>.</p>
<p>Other, even more problematic ones, are imports which need recursive fixed-point
resolution and macros, that need to be resolved and expanded before the rest of
the code can be processed.</p>
<p>Therefore, the resolution is performed in multiple stages.</p>
<h2 id="speculative-crate-loading"><a class="header" href="#speculative-crate-loading">Speculative crate loading</a></h2>
<p>To give useful errors, rustc suggests importing paths into scope if they’re
not found. How does it do this? It looks through every module of every crate
and looks for possible matches. This even includes crates that haven’t yet
been loaded!</p>
<p>Eagerly loading crates to include import suggestions that haven’t yet been
loaded is called <em>speculative crate loading</em>, because any errors it encounters
shouldn’t be reported: <a href="https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/nightly-rustc/rustc_resolve/index.html"><code>rustc_resolve</code></a> decided to load them, not the user. The function
that does this is <a href="https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/nightly-rustc/rustc_resolve/struct.Resolver.html#method.lookup_import_candidates"><code>lookup_import_candidates</code></a> and lives in
<a href="https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/nightly-rustc/rustc_resolve/diagnostics/index.html"><code>rustc_resolve::diagnostics</code></a>.</p>
<p>To tell the difference between speculative loads and loads initiated by the
user, <a href="https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/nightly-rustc/rustc_resolve/index.html"><code>rustc_resolve</code></a> passes around a <code>record_used</code> parameter, which is <code>false</code> when
the load is speculative.</p>
<h2 id="todo-16"><a class="header" href="#todo-16">TODO: <a href="https://github.com/rust-lang/rustc-dev-guide/issues/16">#16</a></a></h2>
<p>This is a result of the first pass of learning the code. It is definitely
incomplete and not detailed enough. It also might be inaccurate in places.
Still, it probably provides useful first guidepost to what happens in there.</p>
<ul>
<li>What exactly does it link to and how is that published and consumed by
following stages of compilation?</li>
<li>Who calls it and how it is actually used.</li>
<li>Is it a pass and then the result is only used, or can it be computed
incrementally?</li>
<li>The overall strategy description is a bit vague.</li>
<li>Where does the name <code>Rib</code> come from?</li>
<li>Does this thing have its own tests, or is it tested only as part of some e2e
testing?</li>
</ul>
</main>
<nav class="nav-wrapper" aria-label="Page navigation">
<!-- Mobile navigation buttons -->
<a rel="prev" href="macro-expansion.html" class="mobile-nav-chapters previous" title="Previous chapter" aria-label="Previous chapter" aria-keyshortcuts="Left">
<span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 320 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M41.4 233.4c-12.5 12.5-12.5 32.8 0 45.3l160 160c12.5 12.5 32.8 12.5 45.3 0s12.5-32.8 0-45.3L109.3 256 246.6 118.6c12.5-12.5 12.5-32.8 0-45.3s-32.8-12.5-45.3 0l-160 160z"/></svg></span>
</a>
<a rel="next prefetch" href="attributes.html" class="mobile-nav-chapters next" title="Next chapter" aria-label="Next chapter" aria-keyshortcuts="Right">
<span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 320 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M278.6 233.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-160 160c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0s-12.5-32.8 0-45.3L210.7 256 73.4 118.6c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0l160 160z"/></svg></span>
</a>
<div style="clear: both"></div>
</nav>
</div>
</div>
<nav class="nav-wide-wrapper" aria-label="Page navigation">
<a rel="prev" href="macro-expansion.html" class="nav-chapters previous" title="Previous chapter" aria-label="Previous chapter" aria-keyshortcuts="Left">
<span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 320 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M41.4 233.4c-12.5 12.5-12.5 32.8 0 45.3l160 160c12.5 12.5 32.8 12.5 45.3 0s12.5-32.8 0-45.3L109.3 256 246.6 118.6c12.5-12.5 12.5-32.8 0-45.3s-32.8-12.5-45.3 0l-160 160z"/></svg></span>
</a>
<a rel="next prefetch" href="attributes.html" class="nav-chapters next" title="Next chapter" aria-label="Next chapter" aria-keyshortcuts="Right">
<span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 320 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M278.6 233.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-160 160c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0s-12.5-32.8 0-45.3L210.7 256 73.4 118.6c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0l160 160z"/></svg></span>
</a>
</nav>
</div>
<template id=fa-eye><span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 576 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M288 32c-80.8 0-145.5 36.8-192.6 80.6C48.6 156 17.3 208 2.5 243.7c-3.3 7.9-3.3 16.7 0 24.6C17.3 304 48.6 356 95.4 399.4C142.5 443.2 207.2 480 288 480s145.5-36.8 192.6-80.6c46.8-43.5 78.1-95.4 93-131.1c3.3-7.9 3.3-16.7 0-24.6c-14.9-35.7-46.2-87.7-93-131.1C433.5 68.8 368.8 32 288 32zM432 256c0 79.5-64.5 144-144 144s-144-64.5-144-144s64.5-144 144-144s144 64.5 144 144zM288 192c0 35.3-28.7 64-64 64c-11.5 0-22.3-3-31.6-8.4c-.2 2.8-.4 5.5-.4 8.4c0 53 43 96 96 96s96-43 96-96s-43-96-96-96c-2.8 0-5.6 .1-8.4 .4c5.3 9.3 8.4 20.1 8.4 31.6z"/></svg></span></template>
<template id=fa-eye-slash><span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 640 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M38.8 5.1C28.4-3.1 13.3-1.2 5.1 9.2S-1.2 34.7 9.2 42.9l592 464c10.4 8.2 25.5 6.3 33.7-4.1s6.3-25.5-4.1-33.7L525.6 386.7c39.6-40.6 66.4-86.1 79.9-118.4c3.3-7.9 3.3-16.7 0-24.6c-14.9-35.7-46.2-87.7-93-131.1C465.5 68.8 400.8 32 320 32c-68.2 0-125 26.3-169.3 60.8L38.8 5.1zM223.1 149.5C248.6 126.2 282.7 112 320 112c79.5 0 144 64.5 144 144c0 24.9-6.3 48.3-17.4 68.7L408 294.5c5.2-11.8 8-24.8 8-38.5c0-53-43-96-96-96c-2.8 0-5.6 .1-8.4 .4c5.3 9.3 8.4 20.1 8.4 31.6c0 10.2-2.4 19.8-6.6 28.3l-90.3-70.8zm223.1 298L373 389.9c-16.4 6.5-34.3 10.1-53 10.1c-79.5 0-144-64.5-144-144c0-6.9 .5-13.6 1.4-20.2L83.1 161.5C60.3 191.2 44 220.8 34.5 243.7c-3.3 7.9-3.3 16.7 0 24.6c14.9 35.7 46.2 87.7 93 131.1C174.5 443.2 239.2 480 320 480c47.8 0 89.9-12.9 126.2-32.5z"/></svg></span></template>
<template id=fa-copy><span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M502.6 70.63l-61.25-61.25C435.4 3.371 427.2 0 418.7 0H255.1c-35.35 0-64 28.66-64 64l.0195 256C192 355.4 220.7 384 256 384h192c35.2 0 64-28.8 64-64V93.25C512 84.77 508.6 76.63 502.6 70.63zM464 320c0 8.836-7.164 16-16 16H255.1c-8.838 0-16-7.164-16-16L239.1 64.13c0-8.836 7.164-16 16-16h128L384 96c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h47.1V320zM272 448c0 8.836-7.164 16-16 16H63.1c-8.838 0-16-7.164-16-16L47.98 192.1c0-8.836 7.164-16 16-16H160V128H63.99c-35.35 0-64 28.65-64 64l.0098 256C.002 483.3 28.66 512 64 512h192c35.2 0 64-28.8 64-64v-32h-47.1L272 448z"/></svg></span></template>
<template id=fa-play><span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 384 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M73 39c-14.8-9.1-33.4-9.4-48.5-.9S0 62.6 0 80V432c0 17.4 9.4 33.4 24.5 41.9s33.7 8.1 48.5-.9L361 297c14.3-8.7 23-24.2 23-41s-8.7-32.2-23-41L73 39z"/></svg></span></template>
<template id=fa-clock-rotate-left><span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M75 75L41 41C25.9 25.9 0 36.6 0 57.9V168c0 13.3 10.7 24 24 24H134.1c21.4 0 32.1-25.9 17-41l-30.8-30.8C155 85.5 203 64 256 64c106 0 192 86 192 192s-86 192-192 192c-40.8 0-78.6-12.7-109.7-34.4c-14.5-10.1-34.4-6.6-44.6 7.9s-6.6 34.4 7.9 44.6C151.2 495 201.7 512 256 512c141.4 0 256-114.6 256-256S397.4 0 256 0C185.3 0 121.3 28.7 75 75zm181 53c-13.3 0-24 10.7-24 24V256c0 6.4 2.5 12.5 7 17l72 72c9.4 9.4 24.6 9.4 33.9 0s9.4-24.6 0-33.9l-65-65V152c0-13.3-10.7-24-24-24z"/></svg></span></template>
<script>
window.playground_copyable = true;
</script>
<script src="elasticlunr-ef4e11c1.min.js"></script>
<script src="mark-09e88c2c.min.js"></script>
<script src="searcher-c2a407aa.js"></script>
<script src="clipboard-1626706a.min.js"></script>
<script src="highlight-abc7f01d.js"></script>
<script src="book-a0b12cfe.js"></script>
<!-- Custom JS scripts -->
<script src="mermaid-cc85ecea.min.js"></script>
<script src="mermaid-init-4533fb11.js"></script>
</div>
</body>
</html>