What does this C pointer code do?

Question

I've just came up with this code on minute 1:06 of a coursera lecture. What does it do?

int (*cmp)(char*, char*);

Answer 1

This is a pointer to a function where the function returns an int and takes as argument two character pointers.

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The basic rule boils down to few things:-

There are three simple steps to follow:

• Starting with the unknown element, move in a spiral/clockwise direction; when ecountering the following elements replace them with the corresponding english statements: [X] or []
  1. Array X size of... or Array undefined size of...(type1, type2)
  2. function passing type1 and type2 returning... *
  3. pointer(s) to... Keep doing this in a spiral/clockwise direction until all tokens have been covered. Always resolve anything in parenthesis first!

Reference: _{1.Clockwise-rule 2.right-left rule}

Answer 2

When you read C declarations you must read them butrophedonically (common way of writing in stone in Ancient Greece).

pointer to
  function that 
    has (char*, char*) type parameters as input
    and int as output

EDIT: