Mnemonic

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What Does Mnemonic Mean?

A mnemonic is a term, symbol or name used to define or specify a computing function. Mnemonics are used in computing to provide users with a means to quickly access a function, service or process, bypassing the actual more lengthy method used to perform or achieve it. Assembly language also uses a mnemonic to represent machine operation, or opcode.

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Techopedia Explains Mnemonic

In computer programming, routine programming functions are assigned a mnemonic that is shorter in length but provides the same functionality as the original function.

In assembly language, mnemonics are used to specify an opcode that represents a complete and operational machine language instruction. This is later translated by the assembler to generate the object code. For example, the mnemonic MOV is used in assembly language for copying and moving data between registers and memory locations.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.