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# What `#[derive(AsRef)]` generates
Deriving `AsRef` generates one or more implementations of `AsRef`, each
corresponding to one of the fields of the decorated type.
This allows types which contain some `T` to be passed anywhere that an
`AsRef<T>` is accepted.
## Newtypes and Structs with One Field
When `AsRef` is derived for a newtype or struct with one field, a single
implementation is generated to expose the underlying field.
```rust
# use derive_more::AsRef;
#
#[derive(AsRef)]
struct MyWrapper(String);
```
Generates:
```rust
# struct MyWrapper(String);
impl AsRef<String> for MyWrapper {
fn as_ref(&self) -> &String {
&self.0
}
}
```
It's also possible to use the `#[as_ref(forward)]` attribute to forward
to the `as_ref` implementation of the field. So here `SingleFieldForward`
implements all `AsRef` for all types that `Vec<i32>` implements `AsRef` for.
```rust
# use derive_more::AsRef;
#
#[derive(AsRef)]
#[as_ref(forward)]
struct SingleFieldForward(Vec<i32>);
let item = SingleFieldForward(vec![]);
let _: &[i32] = (&item).as_ref();
```
This generates:
```rust
# struct SingleFieldForward(Vec<i32>);
impl<__AsRefT: ?::core::marker::Sized> ::core::convert::AsRef<__AsRefT> for SingleFieldForward
where
Vec<i32>: ::core::convert::AsRef<__AsRefT>,
{
#[inline]
fn as_ref(&self) -> &__AsRefT {
<Vec<i32> as ::core::convert::AsRef<__AsRefT>>::as_ref(&self.0)
}
}
```
## Structs with Multiple Fields
When `AsRef` is derived for a struct with more than one field (including tuple
structs), you must also mark one or more fields with the `#[as_ref]` attribute.
An implementation will be generated for each indicated field.
You can also exclude a specific field by using `#[as_ref(ignore)]`.
```rust
# use derive_more::AsRef;
#
#[derive(AsRef)]
struct MyWrapper {
#[as_ref]
name: String,
#[as_ref]
num: i32,
valid: bool,
}
```
Generates:
```rust
# struct MyWrapper {
# name: String,
# num: i32,
# valid: bool,
# }
impl AsRef<String> for MyWrapper {
fn as_ref(&self) -> &String {
&self.name
}
}
impl AsRef<i32> for MyWrapper {
fn as_ref(&self) -> &i32 {
&self.num
}
}
```
Note that `AsRef<T>` may only be implemented once for any given type `T`.
This means any attempt to mark more than one field of the same type with
`#[as_ref]` will result in a compilation error.
```rust,compile_fail
# use derive_more::AsRef;
#
// Error! Conflicting implementations of AsRef<String>
#[derive(AsRef)]
struct MyWrapper {
#[as_ref]
str1: String,
#[as_ref]
str2: String,
}
```
## Enums
Deriving `AsRef` for enums is not supported.