Researchers sometimes use common abbreviations in their reports. The abbreviation 'cf.' means

The abbreviation cf. comes from the Latin confer, meaning compare.

It directs the reader to compare the present point with another source or passage.

Copied from is not the meaning of cf.

Chapter from does not correspond to this Latin abbreviation.

Cited frequently misreads cf., which carries no sense of frequency.

By contrast, viz. means namely and e.g. means for example.