In C, is it good form to use typedef for a pointer?

Question

Consider the following C code:

typedef char * MYCHAR;
MYCHAR x;

My understanding is that the result would be that x is a pointer of type \"

Answer 1

Another way to look at it is from the perspective of types. A type defines the operations that are possible on that type, and the syntax to invokes these operations. From this perspective, MYCHAR is whatever it is. It is the programmers responsibility to know the operations allowed on it. If it is declared like the first example, then it supports the * operator. You can always name the identifier appropriately to clarify it's use.

Other cases where it is useful to declare a type that is a pointer is when the nature of the parameter is opaque to the user (programmer). There may be APIs that want to return a pointer to the user, and expect the user to pass it back to the API at some other point. Like a opaque handle or a cookie, to be used by the API only internally. The user does not care about the nature of the parameter. It would make sense not to muddy the waters or expose its exact nature by exposing the * in the API.