opcode

An opcode, short for "operation code," is a part of a machine language instruction that tells a computer's processor what basic action to perform. Think of it as a command or instruction, like "add," "move," or "jump," that directs the processor how to handle data. When a program runs, the computer reads these opcodes to understand which operations to execute, enabling it to perform complex tasks through a sequence of these coded instructions. Essentially, opcodes are the fundamental building blocks that control the computer's operations at the most basic level.