isr.co.ro : glossary Alias A nickname or stand-in name for a username, file, address, or other resource. On the Net, you might use an alias to hide your true identity in online chats, bulletin boards, or newsgroups. Many e-mail programs also let you specify your choice of memorable nickname aliases instead of remembering the full address of each person you write to. In the Unix and Macintosh operating systems, a supplementary name or access point to a file. In Windows, Microsoft calls the equivalent a shortcut.