if let makes a lot more sense when you learn that a normal let expression also takes a pattern[1]. let Coordinates(x, y) = get_coords(); But this is intende

if let makes a lot more sense when you learn that a normal let expression also takes a pattern[1]. let Coordinates(x, y) = get_coords(); But this is intended for "exhaustive patterns". If you can't express an exhaustive pattern, like with an Option, then you can use let ... else let Some((x, y)) = get_coords() else { return }; if let is just an extension of this "let pattern" system. Once you internalize how patterns work (and they really work everywhere) it all starts to really make sense and feels a lot cleaner. [1]: https://doc.rust-lang.org/reference/patterns.html https://doc.rust-lang.org/reference/patterns.html