Should I use using or typedef?

The C language contains the typedef keyword to allow users to provide alternative names for the primitive (e.g.,​ int) and user-defined​ (e.g struct) data types . Remember, this keyword adds a new name for some existing data type but does not create a new type.

The C language contains the typedef keyword to allow users to provide alternative names for the primitive (e.g.,​ int) and user-defined​ (e.g struct) data types . Remember, this keyword adds a new name for some existing data type but does not create a new type.

One good reason to use typedef is if the type of something may change.

One good reason to use typedef is if the type of something may change.

Conclusion. When it comes to defining simpler type aliases, choosing between typedef and alias-declaration could be a matter of personal choice. However, while defining the more complex template aliases, function-pointer aliases, and array reference aliases, the alias-declaration is a clear winner .

Conclusion. When it comes to defining simpler type aliases, choosing between typedef and alias-declaration could be a matter of personal choice. However, while defining the more complex template aliases, function-pointer aliases, and array reference aliases, the alias-declaration is a clear winner .

typedef is necessary for many template metaprogramming tasks — whenever a class is treated as a “compile-time type function”, a typedef is used as a “compile-time type value” to obtain the resulting type. … Note that template metaprogramming is not commonly used outside of library development.