# Trait std::ops::DerefMut

1.0.0 · source ·

    pub trait DerefMut: Deref {
        // Required method
        fn deref_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Self::Target;
    }

Expand description

Used for mutable dereferencing operations, like in `*v = 1;`.

In addition to being used for explicit dereferencing operations with the (unary) `*` operator in mutable contexts, `DerefMut` is also used implicitly by the compiler in many circumstances. This mechanism is called “mutable deref coercion”. In immutable contexts, `Deref` is used.

Warning: Deref coercion is a powerful language feature which has far-reaching implications for every type that implements `DerefMut`. The compiler will silently insert calls to `DerefMut::deref_mut`. For this reason, one should be careful about implementing `DerefMut` and only do so when mutable deref coercion is desirable. See the `Deref` docs for advice on when this is typically desirable or undesirable.

Types that implement `DerefMut` or `Deref` are often called “smart pointers” and the mechanism of deref coercion has been specifically designed to facilitate the pointer-like behaviour that name suggests. Often, the purpose of a “smart pointer” type is to change the ownership semantics of a contained value (for example, `Rc` or `Cow`) or the storage semantics of a contained value (for example, `Box`).

## Mutable deref coercion

If `T` implements `DerefMut<Target = U>`, and `v` is a value of type `T`, then:

- In mutable contexts, `*v` (where `T` is neither a reference nor a raw pointer) is equivalent to `*DerefMut::deref_mut(&mut v)`.
- Values of type `&mut T` are coerced to values of type `&mut U`
- `T` implicitly implements all the (mutable) methods of the type `U`.

For more details, visit the chapter in The Rust Programming Language as well as the reference sections on the dereference operator, method resolution and type coercions.

## Fallibility

This trait’s method should never unexpectedly fail. Deref coercion means the compiler will often insert calls to `DerefMut::deref_mut` implicitly. Failure during dereferencing can be extremely confusing when `DerefMut` is invoked implicitly. In the majority of uses it should be infallible, though it may be acceptable to panic if the type is misused through programmer error, for example.

However, infallibility is not enforced and therefore not guaranteed. As such, `unsafe` code should not rely on infallibility in general for soundness.

## Examples

A struct with a single field which is modifiable by dereferencing the struct.

    use std::ops::{Deref, DerefMut};

    struct DerefMutExample<T> {
        value: T
    }

    impl<T> Deref for DerefMutExample<T> {
        type Target = T;

        fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
            &self.value
        }
    }

    impl<T> DerefMut for DerefMutExample<T> {
        fn deref_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Self::Target {
            &mut self.value
        }
    }

    let mut x = DerefMutExample { value: 'a' };
    *x = 'b';
    assert_eq!('b', x.value);

Run

## Required Methods§

source

#### fn deref_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Self::Target

Mutably dereferences the value.

## Implementors§

1.44.0 · source§

### impl DerefMut for OsString

1.68.0 · source§

### impl DerefMut for PathBuf

1.3.0 · source§

### impl DerefMut for String

1.36.0 · source§

### impl<'a> DerefMut for IoSliceMut<'a>

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### impl<'a, 'f> DerefMut for VaList<'a, 'f>where 'f: 'a,

1.33.0 · source§

### impl<P> DerefMut for Pin<P>where P: DerefMut, <P as Deref>::Target: Unpin,

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### impl<T> !DerefMut for &T where T: ?Sized,

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### impl<T> DerefMut for &mut T where T: ?Sized,

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### impl<T> DerefMut for ThinBox<T>where T: ?Sized,

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### impl<T> DerefMut for RefMut<'_, T>where T: ?Sized,

1.20.0 · source§

### impl<T> DerefMut for ManuallyDrop<T>where T: ?Sized,

1.9.0 · source§

### impl<T> DerefMut for AssertUnwindSafe<T>

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### impl<T> DerefMut for UniqueRc<T>

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### impl<T, A> DerefMut for Box<T, A>where A: Allocator, T: ?Sized,

1.12.0 · source§

### impl<T, A> DerefMut for PeekMut<'_, T, A>where T: Ord, A: Allocator,

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### impl<T, A, FH> DerefMut for Vec<T, A, FH>where A: Allocator, FH: FailureHandling,

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### impl<T: ?Sized> DerefMut for MutexGuard<'_, T>

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### impl<T: ?Sized> DerefMut for RwLockWriteGuard<'_, T>