# Type aliases

> **<sup>Syntax</sup>**  
> _TypeAlias_ :  
> &nbsp;&nbsp; `type` [IDENTIFIER]&nbsp;[_Generics_]<sup>?</sup>
>              [_WhereClause_]<sup>?</sup> `=` [_Type_] `;`  

A _type alias_ defines a new name for an existing [type]. Type aliases are
declared with the keyword `type`. Every value has a single, specific type, but
may implement several different traits, or be compatible with several different
type constraints.

[type]: types.html

For example, the following defines the type `Point` as a synonym for the type
`(u8, u8)`, the type of pairs of unsigned 8 bit integers:

```rust
type Point = (u8, u8);
let p: Point = (41, 68);
```

A type alias to an enum type cannot be used to qualify the constructors:

```rust
enum E { A }
type F = E;
let _: F = E::A;  // OK
// let _: F = F::A;  // Doesn't work
```

[IDENTIFIER]: identifiers.html
[_Generics_]: items.html#type-parameters
[_WhereClause_]: items.html#type-parameters
[_Type_]: types.html
