In the context of email, what does 'Cc' stand for?

In the context of email, 'Cc' stands for Carbon Copy. This term originates from the use of carbon paper in traditional letter writing, where a sheet of carbon paper placed between two sheets allowed for the simultaneous creation of duplicates.

When you use the 'Cc' field in an email, it means that a copy of the email will be sent to the recipient(s) listed in that field, in addition to the primary recipient(s). The individuals in the 'Cc' field receive the message but are not the main audience for the email. This feature is useful for keeping people informed without requiring them to respond, creating transparency in communication while becoming a part of the conversation in a passive manner.

Understanding the functionality of 'Cc' allows users to effectively communicate with multiple parties while delineating who is included in the conversation for informational purposes rather than direct engagement.