Technology Fundamentals
Class
Definition
In object-oriented programming, a class is a blueprint for creating objects. It defines a set of attributes (properties) and methods (functions) that the created objects will have.
Why It Matters
Classes allow developers to create reusable and organized code. By defining a class, you can create many objects with the same structure and behavior without rewriting the code each time.
Contextual Example
A developer could create a `Dog` class with attributes like `name` and `breed`, and methods like `bark()`. They could then create individual dog objects like `fido = new Dog("Fido", "Golden Retriever")` and `buddy = new Dog("Buddy", "Labrador")`.
Common Misunderstandings
- A class is the template, while an object is the actual instance created from that template.
- Not all programming languages use classes. Languages like JavaScript use a similar concept called prototypes.