# Instruction list

> Wikimedia list article

**Wikidata**: [Q613332](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q613332)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instruction_list)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/instruction-list

## Summary
Instruction list is a programming language defined by the IEC 61131-3 standard for communicating instructions to machines, particularly in industrial automation. It is also known by aliases like IL, Statement List, and AWL.

## Key Facts
- Instance of programming language
- Described by the IEC 61131-3 international standard
- Aliases include Instruction List, Техно IL, IL, Statement List, AWL
- Freebase ID: /m/09c5w0 (reference: Freebase dataset Q15241312, 2013-10-28)
- Has 9 sitelinks across Wikimedia projects
- Wikipedia articles exist in 9 languages: German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Ukrainian, Chinese
- Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued): 2781355377

## FAQs
### Q: What is Instruction list used for?  
A: Instruction list is a programming language designed for communicating instructions to machines, primarily in industrial automation and programmable logic controller environments.

### Q: What are the other names for Instruction list?  
A: It is also known as Instruction List, Техно IL, IL, Statement List, and AWL, reflecting regional and technical variations in naming.

### Q: Which standard defines Instruction list?  
A: It is formally defined by the IEC 61131-3 international standard for programmable logic controller languages.

### Q: How many languages document Instruction list?  
A: Wikipedia articles about Instruction list exist in 9 languages: German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Ukrainian, and Chinese.

## Why It Matters
Instruction list holds critical significance in industrial automation as one of the five standardized languages in the IEC 61131-3 specification. It enables precise, low-level machine control essential for time-sensitive applications in manufacturing and process industries. By providing a standardized textual programming alternative to graphical languages, it bridges the gap between human-readable instructions and machine-executable code, ensuring reliability, interoperability, and safety in automated systems. Its inclusion in the global IEC standard consolidates industrial programming practices, reducing errors and training costs while supporting universal adoption across PLC manufacturers and automation engineers worldwide.

## Notable For
- Standardized in IEC 61131-3 alongside languages like Ladder Diagram and Structured Text
- Uses a textual, mnemonic-based syntax resembling assembly language
- Specifically designed for direct hardware-level control in PLC systems
- Recognized as a foundational language for industrial automation programming
- Maintains multiple aliases reflecting its adoption in different regional contexts

## Body
### Definition
Instruction list is a textual programming language defined by the IEC 61131-3 standard for industrial automation systems. It serves as one of the five standardized languages for programmable logic controllers (PLCs).

### Standardization
- Governed by the international standard IEC 61131-3, published in 1993 and revised periodically
- Standardized alongside Ladder Diagram, Function Block Diagram, Structured Text, and Sequential Function Chart
- Ensures compatibility across PLC manufacturers and automation platforms

### Technical Characteristics
- Uses mnemonic-based instructions similar to assembly language (e.g., LD for load, OUT for output)
- Supports basic operations: load (LD), and (AND), or (OR), not (NOT), and output (OUT)
- Executes sequentially through a list of statements
- Optimized for real-time control and deterministic execution

### Naming Variants
- Primary alias: IL (Instruction List)
- Industrial abbreviations: AWL (Anweisungsliste in German), Statement List
- Regional variant: Техно IL (Techno IL)

### Digital Presence
- Exists as a Wikimedia list article with 9 sitelinks
- Wikipedia documentation spans 9 languages: German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Ukrainian, Chinese
- Freebase identifier: /m/09c5w0
- Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued): 2781355377

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013