What does "CC:" stand for in an e-mail?

[newbie~wan]

Just as the title says, whats the line below the "To:" mean when composing an e-mail?

[puk]

cc=copy carbon

[KAknight]

FYI
bcc = blind carbon copy. No one you send it to sees who else you sent it too. This is useful for those people who are fond of the "reply to all" button.

[newbie~wan]

Oh, cool, thanx.

BTW, in terms of business use, what are people's recommendations on which people go in the "to" and which receive carbon copies? I don't understand the use of it. It's like, if you want someone to receive it, put them in the "to" line. Is that so complicated?

Anecdotal example welcomed

To: the person who will act on the email.
cc: For information and to keep them informed. Sometimes people are cc'ed for a conference/meeting and its optional for them to attend. For the To: people attendance may be mandatory.

bcc: Only FYI and no action expected from them.

But these abbreviations go back to the days we used typewriters and made multiple copies using carbon paper. The CC has some other words associated now. One C is copy teh other I forget. Someone will bring it up.

[Graham]

CC=carbon copy, this is the second copy which would have been sent to the less important person, often in their case for information only.

G

[swamp-fox]

CC: is good also so everyone doesn't know who else you sent it to. Yeah for the people who always forward mail to me. Please don't enter my whole real name in your contact list and don't forward the mail!!! Do what I do and copy and paste to a new letter if you want to send me something. I get forward's with 100 people's names their real names and e=mail names. Maybe I should start a rant thread about this.
Swamp

[Mntsnow]

I agree with Shahani's discription other than BCC.

I use bcc as a "cover your butt" as I usually put my own email addy in on that line when I send important or time sensitive emails as that gives me proof that the email was sent and that the email server was working as the email has to hit the server and then is sent back to you giving you proof that you sent it