instance
An instance is a concrete occurrence of a class—a unique object created using a class as its template. When you create an instance, you’re making a specific copy of the class with its own set of data attributes.
Python
class Dog:
pass
spot = Dog() # spot is an instance of the Dog class
Related Resources
Tutorial
Python Class Constructors: Control Your Object Instantiation
In this tutorial, you'll learn how class constructors work in Python. You'll also explore Python's instantiation process, which has two main steps: instance creation and instance initialization.
For additional information on related topics, take a look at the following resources:
- Python's Instance, Class, and Static Methods Demystified (Tutorial)
- Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) (Learning Path)
- Using Python Class Constructors (Course)
- Python Class Constructors: Control Your Object Instantiation (Quiz)
- OOP Method Types in Python: @classmethod vs @staticmethod vs Instance Methods (Course)
By Dan Bader • Updated Jan. 21, 2025