# `non_exhaustive`

The tracking issue for this feature is: #44109

The `non_exhaustive` gate allows you to use the `#[non_exhaustive]` attribute on structs, enums and enum variants. When applied within a crate, users of the crate will need to use the `_` pattern when matching enums and use the `..` pattern when matching structs. Enum variants cannot be matched against. Structs and enum variants marked as `non_exhaustive` will not be able to be created normally outside of the defining crate. This is demonstrated below:

    use std::error::Error as StdError;

    #[non_exhaustive]
    pub enum Error {
        Message(String),
        Other,
    }
    impl StdError for Error {
        fn description(&self) -> &str {
            // This will not error, despite being marked as non_exhaustive, as this
            // enum is defined within the current crate, it can be matched
            // exhaustively.
            match *self {
                Message(ref s) => s,
                Other => "other or unknown error",
            }
        }
    }

    use mycrate::Error;

    // This will not error as the non_exhaustive Error enum has been matched with
    // a wildcard.
    match error {
        Message(ref s) => ...,
        Other => ...,
        _ => ...,
    }

    #[non_exhaustive]
    pub struct Config {
        pub window_width: u16,
        pub window_height: u16,
    }

    // We can create structs as normal within the defining crate when marked as
    // non_exhaustive.
    let config = Config { window_width: 640, window_height: 480 };

    // We can match structs exhaustively when within the defining crate.
    if let Ok(Config { window_width, window_height }) = load_config() {
        // ...
    }

    use mycrate::Config;

    // We cannot create a struct like normal if it has been marked as
    // non_exhaustive.
    let config = Config { window_width: 640, window_height: 480 };
    // By adding the `..` we can match the config as below outside of the crate
    // when marked non_exhaustive.
    let &Config { window_width, window_height, .. } = config;