Rust error E0390: cannot define inherent `impl` for primitive types

The compiler team's explanation

A method or constant was implemented on a primitive type.

Erroneous code example:

struct Foo {
    x: i32
}

impl *mut Foo {}
// error: cannot define inherent `impl` for primitive types

This isn't allowed, but using a trait to implement a method or constant is a good solution. Example:

struct Foo {
    x: i32
}

trait Bar {
    fn bar();
}

impl Bar for *mut Foo {
    fn bar() {} // ok!
}

Instead of defining an inherent implementation on a reference, you could also move the reference inside the implementation:

struct Foo;

impl &Foo { // error: no nominal type found for inherent implementation
    fn bar(self, other: Self) {}
}

becomes

struct Foo;

impl Foo {
    fn bar(&self, other: &Self) {}
}

From rustc --explain E0390 (1.99.0), part of the Rust project, MIT or Apache-2.0. Official page.