In object-oriented programming, what are attributes?

Attributes in object-oriented programming refer to the characteristics or properties that define the state of an object. They hold data values and their associated data types, providing insight into what information an object contains and how it can be used. For instance, if you have an object representing a car, attributes might include color, model, year, and make. Each attribute will have a specific data type (like string for color and integer for year), allowing the object to maintain and manipulate its data appropriately.

This is distinct from methods, which are actions that the object can perform. Temporary storage identifies data that won't persist beyond its current use, and container types refer to structures that hold multiple values of a specific type. Each of those concepts serves a different purpose in programming, while attributes specifically relate to the properties assigned to an object. Thus, recognizing attributes as values and data types intrinsic to an object is fundamental to understanding object-oriented programming.