What is a class in programming?

A class in programming serves as a blueprint for creating objects. It defines a template that specifies what attributes (data) and methods (functions) the objects created from the class will have. This encapsulation of data and behavior allows for the implementation of object-oriented programming principles, such as abstraction, inheritance, and encapsulation.

When a class is defined, it does not occupy memory or execute any code by itself; rather, it provides the structure for creating individual objects, also known as instances of the class. Each object instantiated from the class can have its own property values, leading to unique states while sharing the methods defined in the class. This relationship is foundational to building modular, reusable, and organized code in object-oriented programming.

The other options describe concepts that do not accurately reflect the purpose of a class. For example, methods are specific functions that belong to a class and execute code, while an instance refers to a concrete occurrence of a class. A compiled version of the code pertains to the process of transforming source code into executable form, which is not the definition of a class.