E0637 - Error codes index
Description: Book listing all Rust error codes

# Error code E0637

`'_` lifetime name or `&T` without an explicit lifetime name has been used on illegal place.

Erroneous code example:

    #![allow(unused)]
    fn main() {
    fn underscore_lifetime<'_>(str1: &'_ str, str2: &'_ str) -> &'_ str {
                         //^^ `'_` is a reserved lifetime name
        if str1.len() > str2.len() {
            str1
        } else {
            str2
        }
    }

    fn and_without_explicit_lifetime<T>()
    where
        T: Into<&u32>,
              //^ `&` without an explicit lifetime name
    {
    }
    }

First, `'_` cannot be used as a lifetime identifier in some places because it is a reserved for the anonymous lifetime. Second, `&T` without an explicit lifetime name cannot also be used in some places. To fix them, use a lowercase letter such as `'a`, or a series of lowercase letters such as `'foo`. For more information about lifetime identifier, see the book. For more information on using the anonymous lifetime in Rust 2018, see the Rust 2018 blog post.

Corrected example:

    #![allow(unused)]
    fn main() {
    fn underscore_lifetime<'a>(str1: &'a str, str2: &'a str) -> &'a str {
        if str1.len() > str2.len() {
            str1
        } else {
            str2
        }
    }

    fn and_without_explicit_lifetime<'foo, T>()
    where
        T: Into<&'foo u32>,
    {
    }
    }