def alias(selectable, name=None, flat=False):
    """Return an :class:`.Alias` object.

    An :class:`.Alias` represents any :class:`.FromClause`
    with an alternate name assigned within SQL, typically using the ``AS``
    clause when generated, e.g. ``SELECT * FROM table AS aliasname``.

    Similar functionality is available via the
    :meth:`~.FromClause.alias` method
    available on all :class:`.FromClause` subclasses.

    When an :class:`.Alias` is created from a :class:`.Table` object,
    this has the effect of the table being rendered
    as ``tablename AS aliasname`` in a SELECT statement.

    For :func:`.select` objects, the effect is that of creating a named
    subquery, i.e. ``(select ...) AS aliasname``.

    The ``name`` parameter is optional, and provides the name
    to use in the rendered SQL.  If blank, an "anonymous" name
    will be deterministically generated at compile time.
    Deterministic means the name is guaranteed to be unique against
    other constructs used in the same statement, and will also be the
    same name for each successive compilation of the same statement
    object.

    :param selectable: any :class:`.FromClause` subclass,
        such as a table, select statement, etc.

    :param name: string name to be assigned as the alias.
        If ``None``, a name will be deterministically generated
        at compile time.

    :param flat: Will be passed through to if the given selectable
     is an instance of :class:`.Join` - see :meth:`.Join.alias`
     for details.

     .. versionadded:: 0.9.0

    """
    return selectable.alias(name=name, flat=flat)