E0616: field of struct is private Rust Origin: Application & API OSI layer 7 · Application Last updated 5 Nov 2026

Rust: error[E0616]: field `name` of struct `User` is private

You accessed a struct field that isn't pub from outside its module.

Exact message you may see error[E0616]: field `name` of struct `User` is privatefield `0` of struct `Id` is privateerror[E0451]: field `name` of struct `User` is privateprivate field E0616field is private
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Seen on: Rust

Meaning

Make the field pub, add a getter method (pub fn name(&self) -> &str), or a constructor/builder. Struct literals with private fields fail too (E0451). Prefer accessors to keep invariants; use pub(crate) for crate-internal access.

Common causes

  • Field without pub accessed from another module
  • Constructing a struct with private fields
  • Tuple struct field private
  • Cross-crate access
  • Missing getters

⚡ Quick fix

  1. Add pub fn name(&self) -> &str { &self.name }
  2. Make the field pub/pub(crate)
  3. Add a new() constructor for creation

Detailed fix by platform

Rust

  1. pub struct User { name: String } impl User { pub fn name(&self) -> &str { &self.name } }

How to diagnose

  1. Field — pub?
  2. API — Getter/constructor?
  3. Scope — pub(crate)?

🔧 Still not fixed?

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Where this error sits

Origin: Application & API. Errors that are often confused with or caused by this one (click to open):

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