Trait functions can't return `impl Iterator`?

help
1

I'm getting a confusing error message. The following code:

trait MyTrait {
    fn func(self) -> impl Iterator<Item=u8>;
}

Gives this error message:

error[E0562]: impl Trait not allowed outside of function and inherent method return types.

I thought func was a function? Does it simply mean that trait functions can't have impl return types?

2

func is an "associated method" or (informally) a "trait method." When the error message says "function" it means a free function. (this is not very clear, though)

Yes. You should use an associated type:

trait MyTrait {
    type Output: Iterator<Item=u8>;

    fn func(self) -> Self::Output;
}
1 Like
3

Thanks. Would it be at all possible to make the error message slightly more informative for this special case?

1 Like
4

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