dyn Trait
for trait objectsThe dyn Trait
feature is the new syntax for using trait objects. In short:
Box<Trait>
becomes Box<dyn Trait>
&Trait
and &mut Trait
become &dyn Trait
and &mut dyn Trait
And so on. In code:
trait Trait {} impl Trait for i32 {} // old fn function1() -> Box<Trait> { # unimplemented!() } // new fn function2() -> Box<dyn Trait> { # unimplemented!() }
That's it!
Using just the trait name for trait objects turned out to be a bad decision. The current syntax is often ambiguous and confusing, even to veterans, and favors a feature that is not more frequently used than its alternatives, is sometimes slower, and often cannot be used at all when its alternatives can.
Furthermore, with impl Trait
arriving, “impl Trait
vs dyn Trait
” is much more symmetric, and therefore a bit nicer, than “impl Trait
vs Trait
”. impl Trait
is explained here.
In the new edition, you should therefore prefer dyn Trait
to just Trait
where you need a trait object.