In assembly language programming, the symbolic names or abbreviations that represent machine instructions or operations are called what?

Introduction / Context:
Machine language instructions are sequences of binary digits that are difficult for humans to read and remember. Assembly language provides a more readable way to write programs by using symbolic names instead of raw binary. These symbolic names are short abbreviations for operations such as add, move, or jump. Understanding the term used for these human friendly symbols is a key part of studying low level programming.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about symbols used in assembly language.
• These symbols stand in place of machine operations.
• The options include Assembler, Mnemonics, Codes, and All of the above.
• We assume a standard view of assembly language and its translation to machine code.

Concept / Approach:
In assembly language, each machine instruction is represented by a short symbolic word, such as MOV for move, ADD for addition, or SUB for subtraction. These short words are called mnemonics, because they help programmers remember the operations more easily than binary patterns. The assembler is a separate program that translates these mnemonics into machine code. The word “codes” is generic and does not specifically refer to these symbolic instruction names. Consequently, the correct term for the symbols used in assembly language is mnemonics.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the purpose of assembly language. Assembly language provides symbolic representations of machine instructions. Step 2: Identify what these symbolic words are called. Short, human friendly abbreviations like MOV, ADD, and JMP are known as mnemonics. Step 3: Distinguish between mnemonics and assembler. The assembler is the software that reads mnemonics and converts them into machine code. Step 4: Evaluate the term “codes”. Codes is too general and does not specifically denote the symbolic instruction names in assembly language. Step 5: Conclude that “Mnemonics” is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Computer organisation and programming textbooks commonly state that assembly language uses mnemonic operation codes instead of numeric opcodes. They then introduce an assembler as the translation tool from these mnemonics to binary machine instructions. Example listings demonstrate pairs like MOV AX, BX, where MOV is the mnemonic for a move instruction. At no point do they refer to these symbolic names as “assemblers”. The term “code” is used more broadly for a program or piece of software, but “mnemonic” is the precise term that answers this question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (Assembler): This is the program that converts assembly language (with mnemonics) into machine code; it is not the symbols themselves. Option C (Codes): This word is too general and does not specifically describe the symbolic instruction names used in assembly language. Option D (All of the above): Incorrect because only mnemonics accurately describes the symbols; assembler and codes are not equivalent terms.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners see the word “assembler” and think it must be related to assembly language symbols, which is true, but they confuse the tool with the notation. Another mistake is assuming that any reference to “codes” must fit, even though the question requires a precise term. To avoid this, remember that mnemonics are the symbolic names in the source code, and the assembler is the translator program that reads those mnemonics.

Final Answer:
The symbols used in assembly language are called Mnemonics.