What do you call an instance of a class?

An instance of a class is referred to as an object. When a class is defined in programming, it serves as a blueprint for creating objects. Each object created from a class has its own specific data and behavior defined by that class. Objects encapsulate both state (data) and functionality (methods) that can be used to perform operations.

In object-oriented programming, this concept is fundamental because it allows developers to model real-world entities and behaviors in a structured manner. Each object can have its own properties and methods, which can be modified independently of other objects.

The other choices represent different concepts within programming. A method is a function defined within a class and is used to perform operations on objects. A class itself is the blueprint from which objects are created, and a variable is a storage location for data that can hold various types of information. Thus, while these terms are related to the structure and behavior of programs, they do not directly represent an instance of a class.