A cannon is a mounted artillery weapon that fires explosive projectiles of varying ranges and caliber. Different types of cannons exist in the real world as well as science/speculative fiction. In the real world, the use of cannons goes as far back to 12th century China. Up until the 19th century, gunpowder was used as the primary propellant for cannon projectiles. Impact projectiles from cannons are often referred to as cannonballs. In science fiction, there exists different forms of laser-based cannons. Such weapons can be singular mounted or wheeled weapons, or they can be incorporated into the artillery battery of larger structures such as fort battlements, battle ships or space ships.
Cannon is also the code-name of a character named Mitchell Saunders, who is a member of StormWatch featured in comic books published by WildStorm Productions.
Cannon is not to be confused with "canon", which refers to the authenticity or authoritativeness of a given franchise continuity.
