What is an instance of a class commonly referred to in programming?

In programming, an instance of a class is commonly referred to as an object. When a class is defined, it serves as a blueprint for creating objects. Each object created from the class can hold different values for its attributes and can have its own state. This allows for encapsulation, where the data and the methods that operate on that data are bundled together.

To further clarify, a function is a block of code designed to perform a particular task, typically taking input and returning an output. A method is similar to a function, but it is associated with an object and can operate on the data contained within that object. A module is a file containing Python (or other programming language) definitions and statements, which can include functions, classes, and variables but is not an instance of a class.

Thus, the term "object" is most accurately used to describe an instance of a class, highlighting its role in object-oriented programming where classes and objects are fundamental concepts.