1) Data transfer instructions move data between processor registers and memory without changing the data. Common instructions include load, store, move, exchange, input, and output.
2) Data manipulation instructions perform arithmetic, logical, and bitwise operations on data to provide computational capabilities. Examples include add, subtract, multiply, divide, and, or, xor.
3) Program control instructions alter the program flow by branching, jumping, calling subroutines, handling interrupts, and returning from subroutines. Status bits track results of operations.