object and instance

[Megha Jain]

Hello,

Can you please tell me..........
when i say...

Object is an instance of a class....

What is the difference between object and instance....... how can i define instance?

[Campbell Ritchie]

You are right that

Object is an instance of a class.

Any representation of something in Java programming is called an object. So object is a rather non-specific general term. every object has to arise from a class.

If you talk about an object arising from a particular class, you don't call it an object of class XYZ, but an instance of class XYZ.

Does that make it clearer? Or more obscure?

CR

[Megha Jain]

Thanks...... i got it.

Actually i read this question "what is the difference between object and instance? which was asked in interview.

So i want to know how to answer this to an interviewer...... so that i can tell him what he wants to hear

[jaspal singh]

Hi megha,

in object oriencted terminology:
u talk about an object as a blueprint.and the instance is the entity made on that blue print.

for e.g.:u design a car model with its features and sepcification on a paper.then u follow that sketch to create a reall car. the first is object while the second is the instance.


i hope u are clear..

[Jesper de Jong]

Originally posted by jaspal singh:
in object oriencted terminology:
u talk about an object as a blueprint.and the instance is the entity made on that blue print.

You meant: You talk about a class as a blueprint (not an object). Objects are instances of classes, and so are the concrete entities made from the blueprint.

[Megha Jain]

Yeah i got it.......... thank u so much to all of u.

[Ilja Preuss]

See http://faq.javaranch.com/view?ObjectVsInstance