An instance is an individual object of a certain class. A class is a template for and object and an object is an instance of a class.

A few examples:

• Dog are a class of animals. Dogs represent the template and animals represent the object. Dalmatians and German Shepherds an instances.
• Sports cars are a class of vehicles. Sport cars represent the template and vehicles represent the object. Mustangs and Corvettes are instances.
• Refrigerators are a class of Kitchen Appliances. Refrigerators represent the template and Kitchen Appliances represent the objects. Kenmore and GE are instances.

Note that all the instances are not specific. The instances could also be considered as objects. For example we could have red Mustangs as a class of Mustangs. Now, the Mustang is the object.