Typedef Names
A typedef lets us define a synonym for a type.
Example
#include <iostream>
int main() {
typedef double salary; // defining a type of double as salary
salary weekly, monthly;
weekly = 2500.00;
monthly =10000.00;
std::cout<<weekly;
std::cout<<"\n"<<monthly;
getchar();
return 0;
}
Output
2500 10000
A typedef definition begins with the keyword typedef, followed by the data type and identifier. The identifier, or typedef name, does not introduce a new type but rather a synonym for the existing data type. A typedef name can appear anywhere in a program that a type name can appear.
Typedefs are commonly used for one of three purposes:
- To hide the implementation of a given type and emphasize instead the purpose for which the type is used.
- To streamline complex type definitions, making them easier to understand.
- To allow a single type to be used for more than one purpose while making the purpose clear each time the type is used.
