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Types are types. Let's take a type system with generics but no single inheritance.

Traits are properties that types can have, like Java interfaces though more powerful.

Many traits can be used as types to form a vtable dispatch. For example, Box<Send> uses the trait `Send` here as a type. Objects of type `Send` are "unsized" and must be held behind a pointer (which becomes a fat pointer).




> Traits are properties that types can have, like Java interfaces though more powerful.

The GP asked about formal definitions. So I think they want something more precise than that.


I know, I was just clarifying my original statement :)




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