Definition of mnemonic in assembly programming: A mnemonic is an English-like assembly instruction that an assembler converts into the corresponding machine code for the processor.

Introduction / Context:
Programmers rarely write raw opcodes. Instead, they use mnemonics—short words that represent instructions—to make low-level coding practical. Understanding the role of mnemonics clarifies the distinction between assembly, machine code, and higher-level languages.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• An assembler is available to translate mnemonics into binary opcodes.
• Target CPU executes the binary according to its instruction set.
• A mnemonic is part of the executable statement, not merely a comment.

Concept / Approach:
Each mnemonic corresponds to a specific instruction encoding. Assemblers also support labels, constants, and directives to control layout, but the core function is mapping mnemonic + operands into machine language. This lets developers reason about program behavior while leaving bit-level encoding to the toolchain.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Disassemblers reverse the process, showing mnemonics from binary images. Comparing assembler listing files verifies one-to-one mapping for each instruction line.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Incorrect: Opposite of assembly’s purpose.
• “Only comments”: Mnemonics are executable instructions; comments are ignored by the assembler.
• “Compiled to C first”: Assemblers emit machine code directly.
• “BIOS function name”: Those are software interfaces, not instruction mnemonics.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing directives (e.g., .org) with instructions; assuming identical mnemonics across architectures; forgetting that addressing modes affect encoding length even for the same mnemonic family.

Final Answer:
Correct