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Rust errors / Types and traits

Rust compiler error · checked with rustc 1.99.0

Rust error E0120: the `Drop` trait may only be implemented for local structs, enums, and unions

What it meansDrop was implemented on a trait object or reference, which is not allowed; only structs, enums, and unions can implement Drop.

What rustc prints

error[E0120]: the `Drop` trait may only be implemented for local structs, enums, and unions
 --> main.rs:3:15
  |
3 | impl Drop for &'_ mut Concrete  {
  |               ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ must be a struct, enum, or union in the current crate

Real output of rustc 1.99.0 compiling the official example below (2021 edition). Your names and line numbers will differ; the first line is the part to match.

E0120Types and traits
Activein rustc 1.99.0
8related errors linked below

The compiler team's explanation

Drop was implemented on a trait object or reference, which is not allowed; only structs, enums, and unions can implement Drop.

Erroneous code examples:

trait MyTrait {}

impl Drop for MyTrait {
    fn drop(&mut self) {}
}
struct Concrete {}

impl Drop for &'_ mut Concrete  {
    fn drop(&mut self) {}
}

A workaround for traits is to create a wrapper struct with a generic type, add a trait bound to the type, and implement Drop on the wrapper:

trait MyTrait {}
struct MyWrapper<T: MyTrait> { foo: T }

impl <T: MyTrait> Drop for MyWrapper<T> {
    fn drop(&mut self) {}
}

Alternatively, the Drop wrapper can contain the trait object:

trait MyTrait {}

// or Box<dyn MyTrait>, if you wanted an owned trait object
struct MyWrapper<'a> { foo: &'a dyn MyTrait }

impl <'a> Drop for MyWrapper<'a> {
    fn drop(&mut self) {}
}

From rustc --explain E0120 (1.99.0), part of the Rust project, MIT or Apache-2.0. Official page.

Related errors

All 518 Rust error codes · Rust crate data · Glossary

Up next

Often hit nextE0308: mismatched typesA related error from the same family.Read it next →

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