In computer architecture and programming, a set of step-by-step instructions that directs the CPU to perform specific tasks is called a ________.

Introduction / Context:
A fundamental idea in computing is that hardware follows a precise list of instructions to carry out tasks. This ordered list is the essence of software and distinguishes computers from simple hardware-only devices. Understanding the term for this list clarifies how code interacts with the central processing unit (CPU).

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The CPU executes instructions sequentially unless control flow changes.
• Instructions are written in a programming language and translated to machine code.
• We are naming the collection of instructions given to a computer.

Concept / Approach:
The correct term for a set of instructions meant to be executed by a computer is program. A program can be expressed in high-level languages, assembly, or raw machine code. It may include algorithms, data definitions, and control structures that direct the CPU through fetch, decode, and execute cycles.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Operating systems, applications, and firmware are all programs or collections of programs. Compilers transform source programs into executable programs for the target CPU.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
instruction manual: human-readable documentation, not CPU-executable instructions.

logic unit: typically refers to ALU or control logic, which executes instructions but is not the set of instructions.

diagram: a visual representation; again, not executable by the CPU.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing a program with a process. A program is the static code; a process is a running instance of that program with resources like memory and open files.

Final Answer:
program