Objects

An object is a thing that can be observed, thought about, or interacted with, and typically has identity that persists through time. In everyday language an object is a physical thing such as a chair or a rock.

In philosophy, objects are entities with determinate existence; debates consider whether objects are mind-dependent or mind-independent, and how objects bear properties and relations. Objects are contrasted with properties, states, and events; a property such as color or mass is ascribed to objects, while relations connect objects to other things.

In physics, an object (or body) is a region of space with definite boundaries that possesses mass and momentum; Newtonian mechanics describes the motion of rigid bodies under forces. Objects may vary widely in size, from subatomic particles to astronomical bodies, and their interactions are described by physical laws.

In computer science, an object is an instance of a class in object-oriented programming. An object combines data (attributes or fields) and behavior (methods). Objects support encapsulation, abstraction, and polymorphism; object creation is called instantiation, and objects can interact via messages or method calls.

Across disciplines, objects serve as the basic units of study and interaction, used to model reality, organize knowledge, and implement systems. The concept emphasizes continuity of identity, specific properties, and the capacity to participate in relations with other things.