new_trait: Build a Rust-like explicit trait on top of S7

In s7contract: Behavioral Contracts and Generative Laws for 'S7'

Build a Rust-like explicit trait on top of S7

Description

new_trait() adds a nominal contract registry on top of S7 dispatch. A class only has the trait after impl_trait() records the implementation, even if compatible S7 methods already exist. Registrations belong to the current R session and the particular trait descriptor, not its display name. Reuse the same descriptor for registration and checks; deserializing a descriptor does not transfer its registrations.

Usage

new_trait(
  name,
  methods = list(),
  parents = list(),
  assoc_types = character(),
  assoc_consts = list(),
  package = NULL
)

trait_method(
  generic,
  default = NULL,
  name = NULL,
  args = list(),
  returns = S7::class_any
)

Arguments

name	For new_trait(), the trait name. For trait_method(), the method name; it defaults to the generic name when omitted.
methods	For new_trait(), a named list of S7 generics or trait_method() objects.
parents	Optional trait or list of supertraits.
assoc_types	Required associated type names, or a named list of default associated type values.
assoc_consts	Required associated constant names, or a named list of default constant values.
package	Optional package name used only for display.
generic	An S7 generic function.
default	Optional default implementation. If supplied, impl_trait() uses it when a class does not provide an override for that method.
args	Optional named list of S7 classes, interfaces, or traits for runtime argument checking with with() or ⁠%::%⁠. Dispatch arguments other than the first can use S7 classes or unions to refine multiple-dispatch requirements.
returns	Optional S7 class, interface, or trait for runtime return checking with with() or ⁠%::%⁠; defaults to S7::class_any.

Details

This makes default methods and associated metadata practical, but the result remains a runtime R abstraction. It does not emulate Rust's compile-time trait bounds, coherence, orphan rules, or type-checked associated types.

Value

new_trait() returns an S7 object of class s7_trait. trait_method() returns an S7 object of class s7_trait_method.

Examples

local({
  area <- S7::new_generic("area", "x")
  perimeter <- S7::new_generic("perimeter", "x")

  Circle <- S7::new_class(
    "Circle",
    properties = list(r = S7::class_double)
  )

  Measurable <- new_trait(
    "Measurable",
    methods = list(
      area = trait_method(area),
      perimeter = trait_method(perimeter, default = function(x) NA_real_)
    ),
    assoc_consts = c("UNITS")
  )

  impl_trait(
    Measurable,
    Circle,
    methods = list(area = function(x) pi * x@r^2),
    assoc_consts = list(UNITS = "unitless")
  )

  has_trait(Circle, Measurable)
  trait_call(Measurable, "area", Circle(r = 2))
  trait_assoc_const(Measurable, Circle, "UNITS")
})

s7contract documentation built on Sept. 10, 2026, 1:09 a.m.