Well, in C, the type operators are: Ptr(Type) -- deref type Array(Count, Type) -- elem type Func(ParamList, Type) -- return type Since the "Type"

Well, in C, the type operators are: Ptr(Type) -- deref type Array(Count, Type) -- elem type Func(ParamList, Type) -- return type Since the "Type" param is always there. C declaration syntax is like a linear composition of operators where the Type flows through all the operators to form the final type. The base type on the left of the declaration is the initial parameter that goes through the composition. So C type operator grammars (in the right-hand side of the declaration, excluding the base type) are actually: Ptr *rest_of_type Array rest_of_type[count] Func rest_of_type(params) That is why I say ptrs are prefix and array/func are postfix. All 3 have the extra implicit type argument that comes from the wrapping type-expression and the base type - so I wouldn't include it and say they're both prefix and postfix.