function Type (type) {
  type = ref.coerceType(type)
  debug('Type()', type.name || type)
  assert(type.indirection >= 1, 'invalid "type" given: ' + (type.name || type))
  var rtn

  // first we assume it's a regular "type". if the "indirection" is greater than
  // 1, then we can just use "pointer" ffi_type, otherwise we hope "ffi_type" is
  // set
  if (type.indirection === 1) {
    rtn = type.ffi_type
  } else {
    rtn = bindings.FFI_TYPES.pointer
  }

  // if "rtn" isn't set (ffi_type was not set) then we check for "ref-array" type
  if (!rtn && type.type) {
    // got a "ref-array" type
    // passing arrays to C functions are always by reference, so we use "pointer"
    rtn = bindings.FFI_TYPES.pointer
  }

  if (!rtn && type.fields) {
    // got a "ref-struct" type
    // need to create the `ffi_type` instance manually
    debug('creating an `ffi_type` for given "ref-struct" type')
    var fields = type.fields
      , fieldNames = Object.keys(fields)
      , numFields = fieldNames.length
      , numElements = 0
      , ffi_type = new FFI_TYPE
      , i = 0
      , field
      , ffi_type_ptr

    // these are the "ffi_type" values expected for a struct
    ffi_type.size = 0
    ffi_type.alignment = 0
    ffi_type.type = 13 // FFI_TYPE_STRUCT

    // first we have to figure out the number of "elements" that will go in the
    // array. this would normally just be "numFields" but we also have to account
    // for arrays, which each act as their own element
    for (i = 0; i < numFields; i++) {
      field = fields[fieldNames[i]]
      if (field.type.fixedLength > 0) {
        // a fixed-length "ref-array" type
        numElements += field.type.fixedLength
      } else {
        numElements += 1
      }
    }

    // hand-crafting a null-terminated array here.
    // XXX: use "ref-array"?
    var size = ref.sizeof.pointer * (numElements + 1) // +1 because of the NULL terminator
    var elements = ffi_type.elements = new Buffer(size)
    var index = 0
    for (i = 0; i < numFields; i++) {
      field = fields[fieldNames[i]]
      if (field.type.fixedLength > 0) {
        // a fixed-length "ref-array" type
        ffi_type_ptr = Type(field.type.type)
        for (var j = 0; j < field.type.fixedLength; j++) {
          elements.writePointer(ffi_type_ptr, (index++) * ref.sizeof.pointer)
        }
      } else {
        ffi_type_ptr = Type(field.type)
        elements.writePointer(ffi_type_ptr, (index++) * ref.sizeof.pointer)
      }
    }
    // final NULL pointer to terminate the Array
    elements.writePointer(ref.NULL, index * ref.sizeof.pointer)
    // also set the `ffi_type` property to that it's cached for next time
    rtn = type.ffi_type = ffi_type.ref()
  }

  if (!rtn && type.name) {
    // handle "ref" types other than the set that node-ffi is using (i.e.
    // a separate copy)
    if ('CString' == type.name) {
      rtn = type.ffi_type = bindings.FFI_TYPES.pointer
    } else {
      var cur = type
      while (!rtn && cur) {
        rtn = cur.ffi_type = bindings.FFI_TYPES[cur.name]
        cur = Object.getPrototypeOf(cur)
      }
    }
  }

  assert(rtn, 'Could not determine the `ffi_type` instance for type: ' + (type.name || type))
  debug('returning `ffi_type`', rtn.name)
  return rtn
}
Returns a `ffi_type *` Buffer appropriate for the given "type".

@param {Type|String} type A "ref" type (or string) to get the `ffi_type` for
@return {Buffer} A buffer pointing to a `ffi_type` instance for "type"
@api private