An instance of the class. In Java, the run time environment automatically creates one and only one instance of the class for any application that uses the class. This instance contains the class variables that maintain class state and the class methods that implement class operations. Constructors are also class operations. Contrast with object instance.

A specific occurrence of a class defined in a directory service schema. For example, user objects with the attributes "Jeff Smith" or "Eva Corets" would represent instances of the user class.

Value of the class data type that contains a value for each field of the class and that accepts all methods of the class.

A collection of attribute instance values that specifies one example of a class. For example, if the class comprised port information for a router port, you could specify an instance of the class by providing a router board and port number for a particular port. The information you provide to specify a class instance is called the instance identifier. Other related terms are instance string, Relative Distinguished Name (RDN), Index, and Named Object.