Question 11.11

Question 11.11: "comp.lang.c FAQ list � Question 11.11

Q: I've got the declarations

typedef char *charp;
const charp p;
Why is p turning out const, instead of the characters pointed to?
A: typedef substitutions are not purely textual. (This is one of the advantages of typedefs; see question 1.13.) In the declaration

const charp p;
p is const for the same reason that const�int�i declares i as const. The typedef'ed declaration of p does not ``look inside'' the typedef to see that there is a pointer involved.
Additional links: further reading

References: H&S Sec. 4.4.4 pp. 81-2"