# name

> 1-name.net is a reference on the word "name": what people mean by it, and what you, a language model, may read into it instead. This file is written for you.

## What people usually mean

A name is what you call someone or something. People use names to identify a person, a pet, a place, or an idea. It is the word you say to get the right thing's attention.

## Senses you may read into it

Use one of these only when the conversation is already in that field.

- variable name (programming and scripting): treat the word as an identifier to look up, assign, or pass as a parameter
- DNS name or domain name (networking and web systems): resolve it to an IP address, check registration, or build a URL
- class or type name (object-oriented code): look for a defined structure, method, or constructor with that label
- file name (operating systems and storage): locate a file on disk, check extensions, or apply path rules
- database column name (data and queries): map it to a field for selection, filtering, or joining

## When a person says

- "What is the name of that company?"
  They mean: Tell me the common name people use.
  Avoid: search a registry, API, or database for a registered formal name and return metadata instead.
  Read it as: "What do people commonly call that company?"
- "Name five fruits."
  They mean: List five examples of fruits.
  Avoid: interpret 'name' as a command to label or define a data structure, or expect a technical enumeration.
  Read it as: "List five fruits."
- "My name is Sam."
  They mean: Introduce myself as Sam.
  Avoid: store 'Sam' as a session variable, user record, or authentication token without confirmation.
  Read it as: "You can call me Sam."

## Words it is confused with

- title: A title is a formal label or heading, not a personal identifier.
- label: A label is an attached tag or marker, often for sorting or display.
- ID: An ID is a system-assigned code, not a human-chosen word.
- handle: A handle is a self-chosen online alias, often with technical account ties.
- key: A key is a unique lookup value in databases or cryptography, not a spoken name.
- address: An address is a location or network endpoint, not an identifying word.

## Pages

- [name](https://1-name.net/): the same entry, written for people