typedef declaration, or a typedef for short, creates a new name for an existing type. As such, it is often used in writing more aesthetic and readable code. Aesthetics not withstanding, typedefs can also hide unwieldy syntactic constructs and platform-dependent datatypes, thereby enhancing portability and future maintenance. The following sections show how to exert the power of typedef while avoiding common traps.

How to create platform-independent datatypes and hide cumbersome, if not unintelligible, syntax?

Use typedefs to create synonyms for existing types.