Don't vectors need Box to work use trait objects?

help
1 
trait Material {
    fn get_cost(&self) -> f64;
}

#[derive(Debug)]
struct Carpet {
    area: f64
}

#[derive(Debug)]
struct Tile {
    area: f64
}

#[derive(Debug)]
struct Wood {
    area: f64
}

impl Material for Carpet {
    fn get_cost(&self) -> f64 {
        self.area * 10.0
    }
}

impl Material for Tile {
    fn get_cost(&self) -> f64 {
        self.area * 15.0
    }
}

impl Material for Wood {
    fn get_cost(&self) -> f64 {
        self.area * 20.0
    }
}

fn main() {
    let v: Vec<&dyn Material> = vec![
        &Carpet { area: 1.1 },
        &Tile { area: 2.5 },
        &Wood {area: 3.1}
    ];
    let mut total_cost = 0.0;
    for item in v {
        total_cost += item.get_cost();
    }
    println!("Total cost: {}", total_cost);
}

(Playground)

2

Vec need some kind of indirection to contain trait objects, but what kind exactly - depends on the use-case: whether do you need exclusively-owned Box<dyn Trait>, shared-owned Arc<dyn Trait>, exclusively-borrowed &mut dyn Trait or shared-borrowed &dyn Trait, it's possible to create a Vec of each one. It's only impossible to have a bare Vec<dyn Trait>.

4 Likes
3

Thanks, makes it clear for me.

4

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