typedef[ine]

The typedef keyword introduces a new type. The #define directive provides a textual substitution mechanism. When does this matter? Consider the following source:

---

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

#include "str_type.h"

size_t length (CharPtr str) { return strlen(str); }

void message () {
    CharPtr str = malloc (255);
    if (! str) { return; }
    strcpy (str, "The Message");
    printf("%s\n", str);
    free (str);
}

int main () {

    CharPtr str = "Some Static String";
    CharPtr str1, str2, str3;

    printf ("Length: %d\n", length (str));
    message ();
    printf ("sizeof(str1): %d\n", sizeof (str1));
    printf ("sizeof(str2): %d\n", sizeof (str2));

    return 0;
}

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If str_type.h contains

typedef char * CharPtr;

Then the output of running that program is

---

Length: 18
The Message
sizeof(str1): 8
sizeof(str2): 8

---

However, if that file contains

#define CharPtr char *

You instead get

---

Length: 18
The Message
sizeof(str1): 8
sizeof(str2): 1

---

Notice that since the CharPtr is no longer a type you get

char * str1, str2, str3;

after the processing phase of translation and the asterisk only binds to the first variable leaving the remaining two as plain char variables.

Use #define directives only to provide textual substitution prior to translation; it does not interact with - or compliment - the type system.