C++ typedef and return types: how to get the compiler to recognize the return type created with typedef?

Question

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

class A {
    typedef int myInt;
    int k;
public:
    A(int i) : k(i) {}
    myInt getK();
};

myInt A::getK() { return k; }

int main (int argc, char * const argv[]) {
    A a(5);
    cout << a.getK() << endl;
    return 0;
}

myInt is not recognized by the compiler as an 'int' in this line:

myInt A::getK() { return k; }

How can I get the compiler to recognize myInt as int?

Answer 1

typedef creates synonyms, not new types, so myInt and int are already the same. The problem is scope — there is no myInt in a global scope, you have to use A::myInt outside of the class.

A::myInt A::getK() { return k; }