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as_ and _ref: reference conversions

as is a prefix for methods that convert references. ref is a suffix (but prefer as.)

as methods borrow out the primary piece of data contained in &self.

Most commonly return references, but can also return a custom borrowing type or an unsafe pointer.

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
// Copyright 2025 Google LLC
// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0

impl<T> Rc<T> {
    fn as_ptr(&self) -> *const T;

    // Very common on container types, see how it's also on Option.
    fn as_ref(&self) -> &T;
}

impl<T> Option<T> {
    fn as_ref(&self) -> Option<&T>;
    // Slices can be empty! So this is 0 or 1 elements.
    fn as_slice(&self) -> &[T];
}

impl OwnedFd {
    // Covered later.
    fn as_fd(&'a self) -> BorrowedFd<'a>;
}
}

  • Method that returns a borrow of the primary piece of contained data.

  • The borrowing relationship is most often straightforward: the return value is a reference that borrows self.

  • Borrowing can also be subtle, and merely implied.

    • The returned value could be a custom borrowing type, fore example, BorrowedFd borrows OwnedFd through an explicit lifetime.

    • We cover custom borrowing types later in this deep dive, PhantomData: OwnedFd & BorrowedFd.

    • The returned value could borrow self only logically, for example, as_ptr() methods return an unsafe pointer. The borrow checker does not track borrowing for pointers.

  • The type implementing an “as” method should contain one primary piece of data that is being borrowed out.

    • The “as” naming convention does not work if the data type is an aggregate of many fields without an obvious primary one. Think about the call site:
    #![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
// Copyright 2025 Google LLC
// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0

my_vec.as_ptr() // OK
my_person.as_first_name() // does not read right, don't use "as_"
my_person.first_name() // OK
}
    • If you want to have two getters that you need to distinguish, one that returns first name by value, and another one that returns it by reference, use _ref suffix:
    #![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
// Copyright 2025 Google LLC
// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0

impl Person {
  fn first_name(&self) -> String
  fn first_name_ref() -> &str
  fn first_name_mut() -> &mut String
}
}