rust-lang / rust-lang/rust

Confusing lifetime outlives error when mixing generics and Fn traits

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A-diagnostics T-compiler
Dominant language
Rust
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Description

Code
fn wrap(s: &str) -> Option<&str> {
    Some(s)
}

fn apply<T, U>(f: impl Fn(&T) -> U) -> T
where
    T: Default,
{
    let x = T::default();
    f(&x);
    x
}

fn foo() {
    let _ = apply::<String, _>(|s| wrap(s));
}
Current output
error: lifetime may not live long enough
  --> src/lib.rs:15:36
   |
15 |     let _ = apply::<String, _>(|s| wrap(s));
   |                                 -- ^^^^^^^ returning this value requires that `'1` must outlive `'2`
   |                                 ||
   |                                 |return type of closure is Option<&'2 str>
   |                                 has type `&'1 String`
Desired output

Rationale and extra context

No response

Other cases

Removing the reliance on deref:

fn wrap(s: &String) -> Option<&String> {
    Some(s)
}

fn apply<T, U>(f: impl Fn(&T) -> U) -> T
where
    T: Default,
{
    let x = T::default();
    f(&x);
    x
}

fn foo() {
    let _ = apply::<String, _>(wrap);
}
error: implementation of `Fn` is not general enough
  --> src/lib.rs:15:13
   |
15 |     let _ = apply::<String, _>(wrap);
   |             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ implementation of `Fn` is not general enough
   |
   = note: `for<'a> fn(&'a String) -> Option<&'a String> {wrap}` must implement `Fn<(&String,)>`
   = note: ...but it actually implements `Fn<(&'0 String,)>`, for some specific lifetime `'0`

Using fn pointer:

fn wrap(s: &String) -> Option<&String> {
    Some(s)
}

fn apply<T, U>(f: fn(&T) -> U) -> T
where
    T: Default,
{
    let x = T::default();
    f(&x);
    x
}

fn foo() {
    let _ = apply::<String, _>(wrap);
}
error[E0308]: mismatched types
  --> src/lib.rs:15:32
   |
15 |     let _ = apply::<String, _>(wrap);
   |             ------------------ ^^^^ one type is more general than the other
   |             |
   |             arguments to this function are incorrect
   |
   = note: expected fn pointer `for<'a> fn(&'a String) -> _`
                 found fn item `for<'a> fn(&'a String) -> Option<&'a String> {wrap}`
note: function defined here
  --> src/lib.rs:5:4
   |
5  | fn apply<T, U>(f: fn(&T) -> U) -> T
   |    ^^^^^       --------------

For more information about this error, try `rustc --explain E0308`.
Rust Version
stable 1.88.0
Anything else?

No response

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start with the src/lib.rs reproducer and the three diagnostic cases in the issue, using Rust stable 1.88.0 as the baseline. Compare the reported lifetime, Fn-trait, and fn-pointer errors and determine what diagnostic behavior should replace the confusing output; done requires a clear, agreed diagnostic outcome for the reported examples.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
rust
Domain
compilers
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
30/100

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