What is the purpose of a "constructor" in a class?

The purpose of a "constructor" in a class is to initialize an object of the class. When a new instance of a class is created, the constructor is automatically called to set up the initial state of that object, often by assigning values to its attributes or executing any setup logic necessary for the object to function correctly. This means that, as soon as an object is instantiated, it is in a valid and ready state, which is essential for the proper operation of an object-oriented program.

For example, in a class representing a Car, the constructor can set default values for attributes like make, model, and year, so when a Car object is created, those values are automatically assigned.

The other options refer to different concepts: the destruction of class instances is managed by destructors; security enhancements typically involve access modifiers and design principles, not constructors; and debugging is a separate process that involves identifying and fixing errors in code, unrelated to the purpose of a constructor.