title: Why are the standard datatypes not used in Win32 API?
body: <p>I have been learning Visual C++ Win32 programming for some time now.
  Why are there the datatypes like <code>DWORD</code>, <code>WCHAR</code>, <code>UINT</code> etc. used instead of, say, <code>unsigned long</code>, <code>char</code>, <code>unsigned int</code> and so on?</p>
  
  <p>I have to remember when to use WCHAR instead of const char *, and it is really annoying me.
  Why aren't the standard datatypes used in the first place? Will it help if I memorize Win32 equivalents and use these for my own variables as well?</p>