Mnemonics is a simple term which stands for a device or technique that aid memorization of any information. The term 'mnemonics' has been derived from the Greek word 'mnemonikos' which means mind. Mnemonic devices are of various kinds, out of which rhyme is a common type.

Don't you remember learning how many days each month of the year contain through a poem, which is:

30 days hath September,
April, June, & November…

Another popular type of mnemonics is the acronyms. In order to memorize and recall the order in which the eight planets of the solar system are located depending on their distance from the sun, the following phrase is used:

'My Very Excited Mother Just Served Us Noodles'

In this phrase, that initial letters of the words denote the eight planets of the solar system, which are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. This technique is closely associated with acronyms and makes use of the initial letters of phrases. It is useful particularly for memorizing lists in particular orders. However, the weak point of this kind of mnemonic technique is that it tends to break down when two words starting with the same alphabet are present in the list.

The method of loci is another mnemonic technique used to remember long speech by ancient orator. It makes use of a combination of visual memory along with association. To use this technique, first identify a familiar path on which you walk; for example, a walk from your class to your dorm, or around the house. After this, mentally walk on this path and identify the various landmarks on it, such as your dorm room, the residence hall followed by a familiar statuette and the like. The number of landmarks that you have to choose depends on the number of items in the list that you need to remember.

After determining the familiar path and the landmarks present on it, now you can begin memorizing the list of the information that is required. In order to do this, you need to mentally associate each piece of data with a landmark that was present on the way. However, this does not mean that you have to limit the loci mnemonics technique to a path only. You can use the same technique with any visual of your choice which can be divided into different sectors. The only consideration is that you should pick the thing with which you are completely familiar and you should remember each and every aspect of that location or object.