Which of the following best describes an instance of a class?

An instance of a class is best described as a realized object that encapsulates data and behavior. In object-oriented programming, a class serves as a blueprint for creating objects. When you create an instance of a class, you essentially create a specific object that holds its own individual state (data) and methods (behavior) defined by that class. This encapsulation allows the object to manage its own state and provide functionalities according to the definitions laid out in the class.

For example, if there is a class called Car, an instance of that class may represent a specific car with attributes like color, make, and model, along with behaviors such as drive() or brake(). Each instance has its own values for these attributes, while sharing the same structure and behavior as defined by the class itself. This ability to create multiple instances helps in modeling real-world entities more effectively within software applications.

Understanding this concept is fundamental as it lays the groundwork for further exploration into aspects such as inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation in programming.