| The compiler could not infer a type and asked for a type annotation. | |
| Erroneous code example: | |
| ```compile_fail,E0282 | |
| let x = Vec::new(); | |
| ``` | |
| This error indicates that type inference did not result in one unique possible | |
| type, and extra information is required. In most cases this can be provided | |
| by adding a type annotation. Sometimes you need to specify a generic type | |
| parameter manually. | |
| In the example above, type `Vec` has a type parameter `T`. When calling | |
| `Vec::new`, barring any other later usage of the variable `x` that allows the | |
| compiler to infer what type `T` is, the compiler needs to be told what it is. | |
| The type can be specified on the variable: | |
| ``` | |
| let x: Vec<i32> = Vec::new(); | |
| ``` | |
| The type can also be specified in the path of the expression: | |
| ``` | |
| let x = Vec::<i32>::new(); | |
| ``` | |
| In cases with more complex types, it is not necessary to annotate the full | |
| type. Once the ambiguity is resolved, the compiler can infer the rest: | |
| ``` | |
| let x: Vec<_> = "hello".chars().rev().collect(); | |
| ``` | |
| Another way to provide the compiler with enough information, is to specify the | |
| generic type parameter: | |
| ``` | |
| let x = "hello".chars().rev().collect::<Vec<char>>(); | |
| ``` | |
| Again, you need not specify the full type if the compiler can infer it: | |
| ``` | |
| let x = "hello".chars().rev().collect::<Vec<_>>(); | |
| ``` | |
| Apart from a method or function with a generic type parameter, this error can | |
| occur when a type parameter of a struct or trait cannot be inferred. In that | |
| case it is not always possible to use a type annotation, because all candidates | |
| have the same return type. For instance: | |
| ```compile_fail,E0282 | |
| struct Foo<T> { | |
| num: T, | |
| } | |
| impl<T> Foo<T> { | |
| fn bar() -> i32 { | |
| 0 | |
| } | |
| fn baz() { | |
| let number = Foo::bar(); | |
| } | |
| } | |
| ``` | |
| This will fail because the compiler does not know which instance of `Foo` to | |
| call `bar` on. Change `Foo::bar()` to `Foo::<T>::bar()` to resolve the error. |