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I'm searching for a particular noun that is used in reference to an entity, perhaps an institution or magazine or similar potential source of information, which is viewed as the go-to source of information on a particular issue.
Sample:
Stack Overflow is the ____ for programming-related questions.
I would use "gold standard" or "standard". It fits well in the sample sentence and are the best terms to convey what you are trying to convey. "Benchmark" could also work.
Simply place, with the emphasis on the the. The does most of the work here and it is often stressed in speech as well.
Stack Overflow is the place for programming-related questions.
The relevant sense is one of the usages of the definite article the, and it is not really about the noun place. Although, place is a common noun used colloquially for this kind of context with a stressed the.
Merriam-Webster defines the relevant sense of the as below:
used as a function word to designate one of a class as the best, most typical, best known, or most worth singling out
If a single word is not a must, go-to place (or website, destination etc.) works also.
