What differentiates a class from an object in OOP?

In object-oriented programming (OOP), the distinction between a class and an object is fundamental to understanding how OOP works. A class serves as a blueprint or template for creating objects. It defines the attributes (properties) and behaviors (methods) that the objects created from the class will have. Essentially, a class encapsulates the definition of an object and provides the structure for the object's state and behavior.

When an object is created from a class, it is referred to as an instance of that class. This instance contains actual values for the attributes defined in the class and can execute the methods associated with the class. Thus, while a class is an abstract concept outlining potential characteristics and behaviors, an object is a tangible entity that possesses those features in a specific context.

This understanding highlights why the option describing a class as a blueprint and an object as an instance of that blueprint is the correct differentiation between the two.