In programming, what defines a 'class'?

A 'class' in programming serves as a blueprint or template for creating objects. It encapsulates data for the object and methods to manipulate that data, enabling the implementation of data abstraction and encapsulation principles. When a class is defined, it does not create any instance or object on its own; rather, it provides a structure that describes the properties (attributes) and behaviors (methods) that the objects created from the class (instances) will have.

The concept of a class allows for the organization of code and promotes reusability, as multiple objects can be instantiated from a single class definition. Classes are fundamental in object-oriented programming, where they facilitate the modeling of real-world entities through attributes and behaviors.

A specific instance of an object refers to an object that has been created based on a class, thus not defining what a class is. A collection of functions alone does not constitute a class, as it also encompasses data and attributes. Lastly, while classes can exist in various programming languages, a class itself is not a type of programming language. It is essential to grasp these distinctions to fully understand the role and definition of a class in programming.