A how-to instruction is a type of guidance that provides STEP-by-STEP instructions on how to complete a task. It is often used in the form of a book, video, or online tutorial. The term 'how-to instruction' can be abbreviated to STEP, which is a four-letter word. How-to instructions are useful for providing detailed information on how to do something, from simple tasks such as changing a lightbulb to more complex tasks such as building a computer.