What is class? | Definition from TechTarget (2024)

What is class?

In object-oriented programming, a class is a template definition of the methods and variables in a particular kind of object. Thus, an object is a specific instance of a class; it contains real values instead of variables.

The class is one of the defining ideas of object-oriented programming. Among the important ideas about classes are:

  • A class can have subclasses that can inherit all or some of the characteristics of the class. In relation to each subclass, the class becomes the superclass.
  • Subclasses can also define their own methods and variables that are not part of their superclass.
  • The structure of a class and its subclasses is called the class hierarchy.

This was last updated in December 2021

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What is class? | Definition from TechTarget (2024)

FAQs

What is class? | Definition from TechTarget? ›

In object-oriented programming, a class is a template definition of the methods and variables in a particular kind of object.

What is a class defined as? ›

A group of people sharing the same social, economic, or occupational status . The term class usually implies a social and economic hierarchy, in which those of higher class standing have greater status, privilege, prestige, and authority.

What is a class in code? ›

In object-oriented programming, a class is a blueprint for creating objects (a particular data structure), providing initial values for state (member variables or attributes), and implementations of behavior (member functions or methods). The user-defined objects are created using the class keyword.

What is a class used to define? ›

A class is used to define a type (classify something). The class defines what objects of the class need to know (data or fields) and do (behaviors or methods).

What is a class and object? ›

class: a class describes the contents of the objects that belong to it: it describes an aggregate of data fields (called instance variables), and defines the operations (called methods). object: an object is an element (or instance) of a class; objects have the behaviors of their class.

What is a class definition in engineering? ›

A class definition encapsulates its objects' data and behavior. Once a class has been defined, it serves as a template, or blueprint, for creating individual objects or instances of the class. A class definition contains two types of elements: variables and methods. Variables are used to store the object's information.

What is a class example? ›

In the real world, you often have many objects of the same kind. For example, your bicycle is just one of many bicycles in the world. Using object-oriented terminology, we say that your bicycle object is an instance. of the class of objects known as bicycles.

How do you identify a class in programming? ›

Java Program to Determine the class of an object
  1. Example 1: Check the class of an object using getClass() ...
  2. Example 2: Check the class of an object using instanceOf operator. ...
  3. Example 3: Check the class of an object using isInstance()

What is the difference between code and class? ›

Source code is readable and mutable file where the class file is immutable and unreadable form of data.

How do you check the class code? ›

The first step is to open Google Classroom and click class you need. Click the settings wheel in the upper right corner of your classroom. This will open your class settings. Scroll down and locate your class code.

Is a class just an object? ›

Class versus object

The difference is simple and conceptual. A class is a template for objects. A class defines object properties including a valid range of values, and a default value. A class also describes object behavior.

Is a class always an object? ›

A class is a user-defined type that describes what a certain type of object will look like. A class description consists of a declaration and a definition. Usually these pieces are split into separate files. An object is a single instance of a class.

What is an example of a class vs object? ›

Class is a blueprint or template from which objects are created. Object is a real world entity such as pen, laptop, mobile, bed, keyboard, mouse, chair etc. Class is a group of similar objects.

How do you define a class in a class? ›

To instantiate an inner class, you must first instantiate the outer class. Then, create the inner object within the outer object with this syntax: OuterClass outerObject = new OuterClass(); OuterClass. InnerClass innerObject = outerObject.

What is class known as? ›

A class defined with various primitive data types such as int, double etc; so it is known as a composite data type; and it is used to create objects which hold similar types of values and behaviours (functions).

What is the definition of a class quizlet? ›

A class is a blueprint for an object. >> The class represents the concept of an object. >>Defined in Object class. >> Specifies types of "attributes" that all objects of this type have.

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