The match Control Flow Construct

match enables pattern matching against enum variants with compile-time exhaustiveness checking. Each pattern can extract data from variants and execute corresponding code.

Basic Syntax

enum Coin {
    Penny,
    Nickel,
    Dime,
    Quarter,
}

fn value_in_cents(coin: Coin) -> u8 {
    match coin {
        Coin::Penny => 1,
        Coin::Nickel => 5,
        Coin::Dime => 10,
        Coin::Quarter => 25,
    }
}

fn main() {}

Structure:

  • match keyword followed by expression to match
  • Arms with pattern => code syntax
  • Arms evaluated in order until match found
  • Matching arm’s code becomes the expression’s return value

For multi-line arm code, use curly braces:

enum Coin {
    Penny,
    Nickel,
    Dime,
    Quarter,
}

fn value_in_cents(coin: Coin) -> u8 {
    match coin {
        Coin::Penny => {
            println!("Lucky penny!");
            1
        }
        Coin::Nickel => 5,
        Coin::Dime => 10,
        Coin::Quarter => 25,
    }
}

fn main() {}

Pattern Binding

Match arms can bind to data within enum variants:

#[derive(Debug)] // so we can inspect the state in a minute
enum UsState {
    Alabama,
    Alaska,
    // --snip--
}

enum Coin {
    Penny,
    Nickel,
    Dime,
    Quarter(UsState),
}

fn main() {}

Extract data using variable binding in patterns:

#[derive(Debug)]
enum UsState {
    Alabama,
    Alaska,
    // --snip--
}

enum Coin {
    Penny,
    Nickel,
    Dime,
    Quarter(UsState),
}

fn value_in_cents(coin: Coin) -> u8 {
    match coin {
        Coin::Penny => 1,
        Coin::Nickel => 5,
        Coin::Dime => 10,
        Coin::Quarter(state) => {
            println!("State quarter from {state:?}!");
            25
        }
    }
}

fn main() {
    value_in_cents(Coin::Quarter(UsState::Alaska));
}

The state variable binds to the inner value from Coin::Quarter(UsState::Alaska), making it accessible within the arm.

Matching Option<T>

Common pattern for safe null handling:

fn main() {
    fn plus_one(x: Option<i32>) -> Option<i32> {
        match x {
            None => None,
            Some(i) => Some(i + 1),
        }
    }

    let five = Some(5);
    let six = plus_one(five);
    let none = plus_one(None);
}

Execution flow:

  • Some(5) matches Some(i), binding i = 5
  • None matches None pattern directly
  • Each variant must be handled explicitly

Exhaustiveness

Match expressions must handle all possible variants:

fn main() {
    fn plus_one(x: Option<i32>) -> Option<i32> {
        match x {
            Some(i) => Some(i + 1),
        }
    }

    let five = Some(5);
    let six = plus_one(five);
    let none = plus_one(None);
}

Compiler error:

$ cargo run
   Compiling enums v0.1.0 (file:///projects/enums)
error[E0004]: non-exhaustive patterns: `None` not covered
 --> src/main.rs:3:15
  |
3 |         match x {
  |               ^ pattern `None` not covered
  |
note: `Option<i32>` defined here
 --> /rustc/4eb161250e340c8f48f66e2b929ef4a5bed7c181/library/core/src/option.rs:572:1
 ::: /rustc/4eb161250e340c8f48f66e2b929ef4a5bed7c181/library/core/src/option.rs:576:5
  |
  = note: not covered
  = note: the matched value is of type `Option<i32>`
help: ensure that all possible cases are being handled by adding a match arm with a wildcard pattern or an explicit pattern as shown
  |
4 ~             Some(i) => Some(i + 1),
5 ~             None => todo!(),
  |

For more information about this error, try `rustc --explain E0004`.
error: could not compile `enums` (bin "enums") due to 1 previous error

Exhaustiveness prevents runtime errors from unhandled cases, especially critical for Option<T> null safety.

Catch-All Patterns

Handle specific values with catch-all for remaining cases:

fn main() {
    let dice_roll = 9;
    match dice_roll {
        3 => add_fancy_hat(),
        7 => remove_fancy_hat(),
        other => move_player(other),
    }

    fn add_fancy_hat() {}
    fn remove_fancy_hat() {}
    fn move_player(num_spaces: u8) {}
}

Use _ placeholder when catch-all value isn’t needed:

fn main() {
    let dice_roll = 9;
    match dice_roll {
        3 => add_fancy_hat(),
        7 => remove_fancy_hat(),
        _ => reroll(),
    }

    fn add_fancy_hat() {}
    fn remove_fancy_hat() {}
    fn reroll() {}
}

Use unit value () for no-op catch-all:

fn main() {
    let dice_roll = 9;
    match dice_roll {
        3 => add_fancy_hat(),
        7 => remove_fancy_hat(),
        _ => (),
    }

    fn add_fancy_hat() {}
    fn remove_fancy_hat() {}
}

Key Points:

  • Catch-all patterns must be last (evaluated in order)
  • _ ignores the value without binding
  • () performs no operation
  • Catch-all ensures exhaustiveness for large value spaces