In object-oriented programming, what is the term for a blueprint to create objects?

In object-oriented programming (OOP), a class serves as a blueprint for creating objects. It defines a data structure that includes attributes (or properties) and methods (or functions) that characterize the objects created from it. When a class is instantiated, it results in an object, which is a specific implementation of the class with its own unique state.

The significance of a class lies in its ability to encapsulate data and behavior together. This encapsulation supports the principles of OOP, such as inheritance and polymorphism, enabling developers to build more modular and maintainable code. A class can be seen as a template that specifies how the data should be organized and what operations can be performed on that data, thereby promoting code reuse and abstraction.

In contrast, an object is an instance of a class, a method is a function defined within a class, and an instance refers to a concrete occurrence of a class, carrying specific values for the attributes defined in the class.