According to recognized rules or standards; authoritative or accepted as genuine and authentic.
From Greek kanon meaning 'rule' or 'measuring rod,' through Latin canonicus. Originally religious, referring to biblical books accepted as authentic, the term expanded to mean any authoritative standard in various fields.
The original Greek kanon was literally a straight rod used for measuring, which beautifully captures how 'canonical' works - it provides the standard against which everything else is measured for authenticity or correctness, whether in religion, literature, or computer science.
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