Rust error E0603: is private

What it meansThe item exists but is private to its module. Items are private by default; mark them pub (or pub(crate)) to use them elsewhere.

What rustc prints

error[E0603]: constant `PRIVATE` is private
 --> main.rs:9:34
  |
9 | println!("const value: {}", foo::PRIVATE); // error: constant `PRIVATE`
  |                                  ^^^^^^^ private constant
  |
note: the constant `PRIVATE` is defined here
 --> main.rs:4:5
  |
4 |     const PRIVATE: u32 = 0x_a_bad_1dea_u32; // This const is private, so we
  |     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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.

Why it happens

A function or struct in another module without pub.
A crate item that is private; use the public re-export it documents.

How to fix it

1. Make it public

pub mod parser {
    pub fn parse(s: &str) {}
}

Other wordings of this error

is private, private type, private function, private struct, private module

E0603Names, paths and imports

Activein rustc 1.99.0

8related errors linked below

The compiler team's explanation

A private item was used outside its scope.

Erroneous code example:

mod foo {
    const PRIVATE: u32 = 0x_a_bad_1dea_u32; // This const is private, so we
                                            // can't use it outside of the
                                            // `foo` module.
}

println!("const value: {}", foo::PRIVATE); // error: constant `PRIVATE`
                                                  //        is private

In order to fix this error, you need to make the item public by using the pub keyword. Example:

mod foo {
    pub const PRIVATE: u32 = 0x_a_bad_1dea_u32; // We set it public by using the
                                                // `pub` keyword.
}

println!("const value: {}", foo::PRIVATE); // ok!

From rustc --explain E0603 (1.99.0), part of the Rust project, MIT or Apache-2.0. Official page.

Up next

Often hit nextE0425: cannot find value in this scopeA related error from the same family.Read it next →

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