Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm that uses “classes” and “objects” to structure software. In OOP, a class is essentially a blueprint or template for creating objects. It defines a set of attributes (also known as properties or fields) and methods (functions or procedures) that the objects created from the class will have.

An object, on the other hand, is an instance of a class. Think of a class as a general concept or category, like a “car,” and an object as a specific instance of that concept, like a particular car with its own unique features. Each object has its own state and behaviors, based on the class it was created from.

Classes provide a way to bundle data and methods that work on that data into one unit, making it easier to manage and organize complex code. This encapsulation also helps in hiding the internal details of objects and exposing only what is necessary, which makes the code more modular and easier to maintain. By using inheritance, classes can be extended to create new classes that reuse, extend, or modify the behavior of existing classes, promoting code reusability and flexibility.