alias

An alias is an alternative name used to refer to a person, place, or thing. It can function as a pseudonym, stage name, nickname, or assumed identity, and is often adopted to conceal a real name, protect privacy, simplify communication, or for artistic or professional purposes. An alias may be used informally or may be legally recognized in certain jurisdictions, treaties, or records.

In personal naming, aliases include pen names, nom de plume, or variations of a given name. In criminal or undercover contexts, an alias helps to mislead or obscure identity. When aliases appear in official documents, they are typically noted to ensure correct identification and to link records.

In language and information sciences, aliasing describes alternate spellings or forms of a name, including transliteration differences. In computing and data management, alias denotes an alternate label for a command, resource, or field. Examples: shell aliases map short tokens to longer commands; DNS CNAME records map one domain to another; SQL uses aliases to rename tables or columns in a query; file systems use symbolic links as lightweight aliases of files.

In culture and media, alias is widely used as a character or identity choice in fiction. The term also appears in titles, such as a television series or narrative works where a character adopts an alias.

See also: pseudonym; nickname; pen name; stage name; username; code name.