What does an object represent in object-oriented programming?

In object-oriented programming (OOP), an object fundamentally represents an instance of a class. A class serves as a blueprint or template that defines properties (attributes) and behaviors (methods) which the objects created from it will possess. When a class is instantiated, the resulting object embodies the specific state defined by the class and can utilize the methods that the class includes.

For example, consider a class called "Dog". This class may have attributes such as breed, size, and age, along with methods like bark() or fetch(). When you create an instance of the "Dog" class, such as "myDog" with the breed set to "Labrador", you are creating an object that represents that specific dog with its defined attributes and behaviors.

This concept is key in OOP as it allows for encapsulation, making code more modular, organized, and easier to manage. Objects can interact with one another and can also maintain their own states, which is central to the object-oriented paradigm.