# Classes
## CS Concepts — The Codex Coding
**URL:** https://thecodex.expert/coding/concepts/classes/
**Type:** concept | **Confidence:** high | **Last verified:** 2026-06-01

## CANONICAL DEFINITION
A class is a named template that defines the attributes and methods shared by all objects of that type, serving as a blueprint from which individual instances are created, each with its own copy of the class's instance attributes.

## REQUIRES
concepts/objects, concepts/functions, paradigms/object-oriented

## ENABLES
concepts/inheritance, concepts/encapsulation, concepts/polymorphism

## COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
class attr != instance attr; self is convention not keyword; Go has no classes

## SOURCES
- Python Language Reference §3.3
- PEP 557 — Data Classes
- Barrett et al. 1996 C3 linearisation
- Java Language Specification §8

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