9.16 Summary

In this chapter, we've covered:

  • Defining Structs: Using the struct keyword to define custom data types, understanding the syntax with fields enclosed in {}, fields separated by commas, and field names and types separated by colons.
  • Instantiating Structs: Creating instances with field values specified in any order.
  • Field Access: Accessing and modifying fields using dot notation, understanding that mutability applies to the entire instance.
  • Struct Update Syntax: Creating new instances based on existing ones and understanding ownership implications.
  • Using Default Values: Leveraging the Default trait to create instances with default values, and implementing Default manually.
  • Tuple Structs: Structs with unnamed fields and their use cases, emphasizing that they define new types.
  • Unit-Like Structs: Structs without fields.
  • Methods and Associated Functions: Defining functions within impl blocks and understanding the advantages of methods over functions.
  • The self Parameter: Understanding the different forms of self.
  • Getters and Setters: Encapsulating field access and modification.
  • Structs and Ownership: How structs interact with Rust's ownership model.
  • Structs with References and Lifetimes: Handling borrowed data in structs.
  • Generic Structs: Defining structs that work with any data type.
  • Comparing with OOP Concepts: Relating Rust structs to classes and objects in OOP languages.
  • Derived Traits: Using #[derive] to automatically implement common traits and implementing traits manually.

Structs are a crucial tool in Rust, forming the backbone of many programs. They allow you to model complex data in a safe and efficient way, leveraging Rust's powerful type system and ownership model.