Programming Fundamentals/Typedef - An Alias

An explanation of typedef being used to create an alias data type.

General Discussion
The typedef statement allows the programmer to create an alias, or synonym, for an existing data type. This can be useful in documenting a program. The C++ programming language syntax is:

Let's say a programmer is using a double data type to store the amount of money that is being used for various purposes in a program. He might define the variables as follows:

Example 1: Regular Definition of Variables
However, he might use the typedef statement and define the variables as follows:

Example 2: Using typedef when Defining Variables
The typedef statement is not used very often by beginning programmers. It usually creates more confusion than needed, thus stick to using the normal data types at first.

Definitions

 * typedef
 * Allows the programmer to create an alias, or synonym, for an existing data type.