pub struct DebruijnIndex {
    pub(crate) private: u32,
}
Expand description

A De Bruijn index is a standard means of representing regions (and perhaps later types) in a higher-ranked setting. In particular, imagine a type like this:

   for<'a> fn(for<'b> fn(&'b isize, &'a isize), &'a char)
// ^          ^            |          |           |
// |          |            |          |           |
// |          +------------+ 0        |           |
// |                                  |           |
// +----------------------------------+ 1         |
// |                                              |
// +----------------------------------------------+ 0

In this type, there are two binders (the outer fn and the inner fn). We need to be able to determine, for any given region, which fn type it is bound by, the inner or the outer one. There are various ways you can do this, but a De Bruijn index is one of the more convenient and has some nice properties. The basic idea is to count the number of binders, inside out. Some examples should help clarify what I mean.

Let’s start with the reference type &'b isize that is the first argument to the inner function. This region 'b is assigned a De Bruijn index of 0, meaning “the innermost binder” (in this case, a fn). The region 'a that appears in the second argument type (&'a isize) would then be assigned a De Bruijn index of 1, meaning “the second-innermost binder”. (These indices are written on the arrows in the diagram).

What is interesting is that De Bruijn index attached to a particular variable will vary depending on where it appears. For example, the final type &'a char also refers to the region 'a declared on the outermost fn. But this time, this reference is not nested within any other binders (i.e., it is not an argument to the inner fn, but rather the outer one). Therefore, in this case, it is assigned a De Bruijn index of 0, because the innermost binder in that location is the outer fn.

Fields§

§private: u32

Implementations§

Maximum value the index can take, as a u32.

Maximum value the index can take.

Creates a new index from a given usize.

Panics

Will panic if value exceeds MAX.

Creates a new index from a given u32.

Panics

Will panic if value exceeds MAX.

Creates a new index from a given u32.

Safety

The provided value must be less than or equal to the maximum value for the newtype. Providing a value outside this range is undefined due to layout restrictions.

Prefer using from_u32.

Extracts the value of this index as a usize.

Extracts the value of this index as a u32.

Extracts the value of this index as a usize.

Returns the resulting index when this value is moved into amount number of new binders. So, e.g., if you had

for<’a> fn(&’a x)

and you wanted to change it to

for<’a> fn(for<’b> fn(&’a x))

you would need to shift the index for 'a into a new binder.

Update this index in place by shifting it “in” through amount number of binders.

Returns the resulting index when this value is moved out from amount number of new binders.

Update in place by shifting out from amount binders.

Adjusts any De Bruijn indices so as to make to_binder the innermost binder. That is, if we have something bound at to_binder, it will now be bound at INNERMOST. This is an appropriate thing to do when moving a region out from inside binders:

            for<'a>   fn(for<'b>   for<'c>   fn(&'a u32), _)
// Binder:  D3           D2        D1            ^^

Here, the region 'a would have the De Bruijn index D3, because it is the bound 3 binders out. However, if we wanted to refer to that region 'a in the second argument (the _), those two binders would not be in scope. In that case, we might invoke shift_out_to_binder(D3). This would adjust the De Bruijn index of 'a to D1 (the innermost binder).

If we invoke shift_out_to_binder and the region is in fact bound by one of the binders we are shifting out of, that is an error (and should fail an assertion failure).

Trait Implementations§

The resulting type after applying the + operator.
Performs the + operation. Read more
Returns a copy of the value. Read more
Performs copy-assignment from source. Read more
Formats the value using the given formatter. Read more
Converts to this type from the input type.
Converts to this type from the input type.
Converts to this type from the input type.
Converts to this type from the input type.
Feeds this value into the given Hasher. Read more
Feeds a slice of this type into the given Hasher. Read more
This method returns an Ordering between self and other. Read more
Compares and returns the maximum of two values. Read more
Compares and returns the minimum of two values. Read more
Restrict a value to a certain interval. Read more
This method tests for self and other values to be equal, and is used by ==. Read more
This method tests for !=. The default implementation is almost always sufficient, and should not be overridden without very good reason. Read more
This method returns an ordering between self and other values if one exists. Read more
This method tests less than (for self and other) and is used by the < operator. Read more
This method tests less than or equal to (for self and other) and is used by the <= operator. Read more
This method tests greater than (for self and other) and is used by the > operator. Read more
This method tests greater than or equal to (for self and other) and is used by the >= operator. Read more
🔬This is a nightly-only experimental API. (step_trait)
Returns the number of successor steps required to get from start to end. Read more
🔬This is a nightly-only experimental API. (step_trait)
Returns the value that would be obtained by taking the successor of self count times. Read more
🔬This is a nightly-only experimental API. (step_trait)
Returns the value that would be obtained by taking the predecessor of self count times. Read more
🔬This is a nightly-only experimental API. (step_trait)
Returns the value that would be obtained by taking the successor of self count times. Read more
🔬This is a nightly-only experimental API. (step_trait)
Returns the value that would be obtained by taking the successor of self count times. Read more
🔬This is a nightly-only experimental API. (step_trait)
Returns the value that would be obtained by taking the predecessor of self count times. Read more
🔬This is a nightly-only experimental API. (step_trait)
Returns the value that would be obtained by taking the predecessor of self count times. Read more

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

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.

Layout§

Note: Most layout information is completely unstable and may even differ between compilations. The only exception is types with certain repr(...) attributes. Please see the Rust Reference’s “Type Layout” chapter for details on type layout guarantees.

Size: 4 bytes