Aliased

Aliased is the adjective used to describe something that has an alias or is subject to aliasing. An alias is an alternative name or identity referring to the same object in a given context. The term appears in computing, data processing, and other technical fields.

In programming and software, aliasing occurs when two or more names refer to the same memory location or object. Updates through one alias affect all others. Aliasing can complicate reasoning, optimization, and safety, especially in languages that permit mutable data. Many languages offer controls or conventions—immutability, ownership, or explicit references—to reduce unintended aliasing.

In databases and query languages, aliasing creates temporary names for tables or columns. SQL uses AS or implicit aliasing to improve readability or simplify expressions. The alias exists only for the duration of the query and does not change the underlying schema or data.

In signal processing and computer graphics, aliasing describes distortion that arises when sampling a continuous signal or rendering at insufficient resolution. High-frequency content can masquerade as lower frequencies, producing artifacts such as moiré patterns or jagged edges. Anti-aliasing techniques filter or oversample to minimize these effects.

Aliased concepts also appear in shells and file systems as shortcuts or references to longer commands or paths, offering convenience with some potential ambiguity.