+ * min, max and can be retrieved using the get_mode_* functions
+ *
+ * @return
+ * The new mode or NULL on error.
+ *
+ * @note
+ * It is allowed to construct the default modes. So, a call
+ * new_ir_mode("Is", irms_int_number, 32, 1, irma_twos_complement, 32) will return mode_Is.
+ */
+ir_mode *new_ir_mode(const char *name, mode_sort sort, int bit_size, int sign, mode_arithmetic arithmetic, unsigned int modulo_shift);
+
+/**
+ * Creates a new vector mode.
+ *
+ * @param name the name of the mode to be created
+ * @param sort the mode_sort of the mode to be created
+ * @param bit_size number of bits for one element of this mode
+ * @param num_of_elem number of elements in this vector mode
+ * @param sign non-zero if this is a signed mode
+ * @param arithmetic arithmetic operations possible with a mode
+ * @param modulo_shift Is ignored for modes other than integer.
+ *
+ * This function constructs a new vector mode given by the parameters.
+ * If the parameters match an already defined mode, this mode is returned.
+ * If the mode is newly allocated, a new unique mode_code is chosen.
+ * Also, special value tarvals will be calculated such as null,
+ * min, max and can be retrieved using the get_mode_* functions
+ *
+ * @return
+ * The new mode or NULL on error.
+ */
+ir_mode *new_ir_vector_mode(const char *name, mode_sort sort, int bit_size, unsigned num_of_elem, int sign,
+ mode_arithmetic arithmetic, unsigned int modulo_shift );
+
+/**
+ * Checks whether a pointer points to a mode.