Glossary · Automation fundamentals, platforms and components
Mnemonic
Also known as: Instruction mnemonic, Mnemonics
German: Mnemonik
In programming, a mnemonic is a short symbolic abbreviation for an instruction or operand, such as LD, AND or ST in instruction list, or I and Q for inputs and outputs. PLC tools often offer language-specific mnemonic sets, for example German (E, A) and international (I, Q).
- Automation components
In one sentence
A mnemonic is a short symbolic abbreviation for an instruction or operand, such as AND, ST, or I and Q for inputs and outputs.
Example
In the German mnemonic setting, an input appears as E 1.0; in the international setting, the same input appears as I 1.0.
How it applies
- Engineering: The mnemonic setting of an engineering tool affects how addresses and instructions are displayed. Teams should agree on one setting for a project.
- Maintenance: Service staff working across countries may meet both German and international mnemonics; confusion between A (German "Ausgang", output) and A (AND in some languages) is possible.
- Documentation: State which mnemonic convention is used in manuals, I/O lists and circuit diagrams, and keep it consistent. When translating, do not translate mnemonics like text — they are tool settings.
Mnemonic vs. symbol
A mnemonic is the standard abbreviation for an instruction or address type. A symbol is a user-defined name, such as Conveyor_Start, for a specific address or variable. Good programs use symbols; mnemonics remain underneath.