The difference between Classes, Objects, and Instances

Question

What is a class, an object and an instance in Java?

Answer 1

Class

• It has logical existence, i.e. no memory space is allocated when it is created.

• It is a set of objects.

• A class may be regarded as a blueprint to create objects.

  • It is created using class keyword

  • A class defines the methods and data members that will be possessed by Objects.

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Object

• It has physical existence, i.e. memory space is allocated when it is created.

• It is an instance of a class.

• An object is a unique entity which contains data members and member functions together in OOP language.

  • It is created using new keyword

  • An object specifies the implementations of the methods and the values that will be possessed by the data members in the class.