What does "object" refer to in programming?

In programming, the term "object" specifically refers to a specific instance of a class. An object encapsulates both data and the methods that operate on that data. In object-oriented programming, classes serve as blueprints for creating objects, defining the properties (attributes) and behaviors (methods) that the objects created from the class will have. When you instantiate a class, you generate an object that contains individual data unique to that instance while sharing the same structure and behavior defined by the class.

Understanding this concept is fundamental in programming, particularly in languages that facilitate object-oriented design. The other options don't align with the definition of an object. For instance, a function performing a task is a behavior associated with an object but does not define what an object is; a variable holding a single value may represent data but lacks the encapsulation of methods and properties that characterize an object; and a set of programming rules refers to programming language syntax or semantics, which is unrelated to the concept of an object in object-oriented programming.