A class is a blueprint for creating objects in object-oriented programming (OOP). It defines the properties (attributes) and behaviors (methods) that objects created from the class will have. In essence, a class provides a template for creating instances of that class (known as objects), where each object holds its own set of data and can perform actions based on the methods defined in the class.

Definition: A class is a blueprint for creating objects (instances) in object-oriented programming. It defines the properties and behaviors that objects created from the class will have.

For example, a Car class might have attributes like color, model, and speed, and methods like accelerate() or brake(). When you create an object from this Car class, you can set specific values for the attributes and call its methods. Classes allow you to model real-world entities in your programs, making your code more intuitive and organized.

class Car:
    def __init__(self, make, model):
        self.make = make
        self.model = model

Classes enable key OOP features like inheritance, where a class can inherit properties and methods from another class, and encapsulation, where you can control access to the class’s internal data. Classes provide the structure and functionality for creating and interacting with objects in a program, making them the cornerstone of object-oriented design.