# Crate std 1.0.0 [−] [src]

# The Rust Standard Library

The Rust Standard Library is the foundation of portable Rust software, a set of minimal and battle-tested shared abstractions for the broader Rust ecosystem. It offers core types, like `Vec<T>` and `Option<T>`, library-defined operations on language primitives, standard macros, I/O and multithreading, among many other things.

`std` is available to all Rust crates by default, just as if each one contained an `extern crate std;` import at the crate root. Therefore the standard library can be accessed in `use` statements through the path `std`, as in `use std::env`, or in expressions through the absolute path `::std`, as in `::std::env::args`.

# How to read this documentation

If you already know the name of what you are looking for, the fastest way to find it is to use the search bar at the top of the page.

Otherwise, you may want to jump to one of these useful sections:

- `std::*` modules
- Primitive types
- Standard macros
- The Rust Prelude

If this is your first time, the documentation for the standard library is written to be casually perused. Clicking on interesting things should generally lead you to interesting places. Still, there are important bits you don't want to miss, so read on for a tour of the standard library and its documentation!

Once you are familiar with the contents of the standard library you may begin to find the verbosity of the prose distracting. At this stage in your development you may want to press the [-] button near the top of the page to collapse it into a more skimmable view.

While you are looking at that [-] button also notice the [src] button. Rust's API documentation comes with the source code and you are encouraged to read it. The standard library source is generally high quality and a peek behind the curtains is often enlightening.

# What is in the standard library documentation?

First of all, The Rust Standard Library is divided into a number of focused modules, all listed further down this page. These modules are the bedrock upon which all of Rust is forged, and they have mighty names like `std::slice` and `std::cmp`. Modules' documentation typically includes an overview of the module along with examples, and are a smart place to start familiarizing yourself with the library.

Second, implicit methods on primitive types are documented here. This can be a source of confusion for two reasons:

1. While primitives are implemented by the compiler, the standard library implements methods directly on the primitive types (and it is the only library that does so), which are documented in the section on primitives.
2. The standard library exports many modules with the same name as primitive types. These define additional items related to the primitive type, but not the all-important methods.

So for example there is a page for the primitive type `i32` that lists all the methods that can be called on 32-bit integers (very useful), and there is a page for the module `std::i32` that documents the constant values `MIN` and `MAX` (rarely useful).

Note the documentation for the primitives `str` and `[T]` (also called 'slice'). Many method calls on `String` and `Vec<T>` are actually calls to methods on `str` and `[T]` respectively, via deref coercions.

Third, the standard library defines The Rust Prelude, a small collection of items - mostly traits - that are imported into every module of every crate. The traits in the prelude are pervasive, making the prelude documentation a good entry point to learning about the library.

And finally, the standard library exports a number of standard macros, and lists them on this page (technically, not all of the standard macros are defined by the standard library - some are defined by the compiler - but they are documented here the same). Like the prelude, the standard macros are imported by default into all crates.

# Contributing changes to the documentation

Check out the rust contribution guidelines here. The source for this documentation can be found on Github. To contribute changes, make sure you read the guidelines first, then submit pull-requests for your suggested changes.

Contributions are appreciated! If you see a part of the docs that can be improved, submit a PR, or chat with us first on irc.mozilla.org #rust-docs.

# A Tour of The Rust Standard Library

The rest of this crate documentation is dedicated to pointing out notable features of The Rust Standard Library.

## Containers and collections

The `option` and `result` modules define optional and error-handling types, `Option<T>` and `Result<T, E>`. The `iter` module defines Rust's iterator trait, `Iterator`, which works with the `for` loop to access collections.

The standard library exposes three common ways to deal with contiguous regions of memory:

- `Vec<T>` - A heap-allocated vector that is resizable at runtime.
- `[T; n]` - An inline array with a fixed size at compile time.
- `[T]` - A dynamically sized slice into any other kind of contiguous storage, whether heap-allocated or not.

Slices can only be handled through some kind of pointer, and as such come in many flavors such as:

- `&[T]` - shared slice
- `&mut [T]` - mutable slice
- `Box<[T]>` - owned slice

`str`, a UTF-8 string slice, is a primitive type, and the standard library defines many methods for it. Rust `str`s are typically accessed as immutable references: `&str`. Use the owned `String` for building and mutating strings.

For converting to strings use the `format!` macro, and for converting from strings use the `FromStr` trait.

Data may be shared by placing it in a reference-counted box or the `Rc` type, and if further contained in a `Cell` or `RefCell`, may be mutated as well as shared. Likewise, in a concurrent setting it is common to pair an atomically-reference-counted box, `Arc`, with a `Mutex` to get the same effect.

The `collections` module defines maps, sets, linked lists and other typical collection types, including the common `HashMap<K, V>`.

## Platform abstractions and I/O

Besides basic data types, the standard library is largely concerned with abstracting over differences in common platforms, most notably Windows and Unix derivatives.

Common types of I/O, including files, TCP, UDP, are defined in the `io`, `fs`, and `net` modules.

The `thread` module contains Rust's threading abstractions. `sync` contains further primitive shared memory types, including `atomic` and `mpsc`, which contains the channel types for message passing.

## Primitive Types

array | A fixed-size array, denoted `[T; N]`, for the element type, `T`, and the non-negative compile-time constant size, `N`.
bool | The boolean type.
char | A character type.
f32 | The 32-bit floating point type.
f64 | The 64-bit floating point type.
fn | Function pointers, like `fn(usize) -> bool`.
i8 | The 8-bit signed integer type.
i16 | The 16-bit signed integer type.
i32 | The 32-bit signed integer type.
i64 | The 64-bit signed integer type.
isize | The pointer-sized signed integer type.
pointer | Raw, unsafe pointers, `*const T`, and `*mut T`.
reference | References, both shared and mutable.
slice | A dynamically-sized view into a contiguous sequence, `[T]`.
str | String slices.
tuple | A finite heterogeneous sequence, `(T, U, ..)`.
u8 | The 8-bit unsigned integer type.
u16 | The 16-bit unsigned integer type.
u32 | The 32-bit unsigned integer type.
u64 | The 64-bit unsigned integer type.
unit | The `()` type, sometimes called "unit" or "nil".
usize | The pointer-sized unsigned integer type.
i128 | [ Experimental ] The 128-bit signed integer type.
never | [ Experimental ] The `!` type, also called "never".
u128 | [ Experimental ] The 128-bit unsigned integer type.

## Modules

any | This module implements the `Any` trait, which enables dynamic typing of any `'static` type through runtime reflection.
ascii | Operations on ASCII strings and characters.
borrow | A module for working with borrowed data.
boxed | A pointer type for heap allocation.
cell | Shareable mutable containers.
char | A character type.
clone | The `Clone` trait for types that cannot be 'implicitly copied'.
cmp | Functionality for ordering and comparison.
collections | Collection types.
convert | Traits for conversions between types.
default | The `Default` trait for types which may have meaningful default values.
env | Inspection and manipulation of the process's environment.
error | Traits for working with Errors.
f32 | This module provides constants which are specific to the implementation of the `f32` floating point data type.
f64 | This module provides constants which are specific to the implementation of the `f64` floating point data type.
ffi | Utilities related to FFI bindings.
fmt | Utilities for formatting and printing `String`s.
fs | Filesystem manipulation operations.
hash | Generic hashing support.
i8 | The 8-bit signed integer type.
i16 | The 16-bit signed integer type.
i32 | The 32-bit signed integer type.
i64 | The 64-bit signed integer type.
io | Traits, helpers, and type definitions for core I/O functionality.
isize | The pointer-sized signed integer type.
iter | Composable external iteration.
marker | Primitive traits and types representing basic properties of types.
mem | Basic functions for dealing with memory.
net | Networking primitives for TCP/UDP communication.
num | Additional functionality for numerics.
ops | Overloadable operators.
option | Optional values.
os | OS-specific functionality.
panic | Panic support in the standard library.
path | Cross-platform path manipulation.
prelude | The Rust Prelude.
process | A module for working with processes.
ptr | Raw, unsafe pointers, `*const T`, and `*mut T`.
rc | Single-threaded reference-counting pointers. 'Rc' stands for 'Reference Counted'.
result | Error handling with the `Result` type.
slice | A dynamically-sized view into a contiguous sequence, `[T]`.
str | Unicode string slices.
string | A UTF-8 encoded, growable string.
sync | Useful synchronization primitives.
thread | Native threads.
time | Temporal quantification.
u8 | The 8-bit unsigned integer type.
u16 | The 16-bit unsigned integer type.
u32 | The 32-bit unsigned integer type.
u64 | The 64-bit unsigned integer type.
usize | The pointer-sized unsigned integer type.
vec | A contiguous growable array type with heap-allocated contents, written `Vec<T>`.
heap | [ Experimental ] dox
i128 | [ Experimental ] The 128-bit signed integer type.
intrinsics | [ Experimental ] rustc compiler intrinsics.
raw | [ Experimental ] Contains struct definitions for the layout of compiler built-in types.
u128 | [ Experimental ] The 128-bit unsigned integer type.

## Macros

assert | Ensure that a boolean expression is `true` at runtime.
assert_eq | Asserts that two expressions are equal to each other (using `PartialEq`).
assert_ne | Asserts that two expressions are not equal to each other (using `PartialEq`).
cfg | Boolean evaluation of configuration flags, at compile-time.
column | A macro which expands to the column number on which it was invoked.
compile_error | Unconditionally causes compilation to fail with the given error message when encountered.
concat | Concatenates literals into a static string slice.
debug_assert | Ensure that a boolean expression is `true` at runtime.
debug_assert_eq | Asserts that two expressions are equal to each other.
debug_assert_ne | Asserts that two expressions are not equal to each other.
env | Inspect an environment variable at compile time.
eprint | Macro for printing to the standard error.
eprintln | Macro for printing to the standard error, with a newline.
file | A macro which expands to the file name from which it was invoked.
format | Creates a `String` using interpolation of runtime expressions.
format_args | The core macro for formatted string creation & output.
include | Parse a file as an expression or an item according to the context.
include_bytes | Includes a file as a reference to a byte array.
include_str | Includes a utf8-encoded file as a string.
line | A macro which expands to the line number on which it was invoked.
module_path | Expands to a string that represents the current module path.
option_env | Optionally inspect an environment variable at compile time.
panic | The entry point for panic of Rust threads.
print | Macro for printing to the standard output.
println | Macro for printing to the standard output, with a newline.
stringify | A macro which stringifies its arguments.
thread_local | Declare a new thread local storage key of type `std::thread::LocalKey`.
concat_idents | [ Experimental ] Concatenate identifiers into one identifier.
select | [ Experimental ] A macro to select an event from a number of receivers.
try | Helper macro for reducing boilerplate code for matching `Result` together with converting downstream errors.
unimplemented | A standardized placeholder for marking unfinished code.
unreachable | A utility macro for indicating unreachable code.
vec | Creates a `Vec` containing the arguments.
write | Write formatted data into a buffer.
writeln | Write formatted data into a buffer, with a newline appended.

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