What concept does a class represent in programming?

A class in programming is indeed a definition of a type of object, encompassing its properties and behaviors. It serves as a blueprint or template from which individual objects (or instances) can be created.

When you define a class, you explicitly declare the attributes (properties) that characterize the objects of that class, as well as the methods (behaviors) that define how those objects can interact or what actions they can perform. This encapsulation of data and behavior is a fundamental principle of object-oriented programming, promoting code reusability and organization.

For example, if you were to create a class called "Car," you might define properties such as color, model, and year, along with behaviors like drive() or stop(). Each specific car created from this class would be an object with those properties initialized and would be able to perform the defined behaviors.

In contrast, the other options refer to different concepts. An individual object is an instance created from a class, while a process that manipulates objects suggests functionality related to methods or functions rather than the foundational structure provided by a class. Lastly, a raw data type without properties does not incorporate the encapsulation of behavior and state that a class embodies, making it distinct from the nature of object-oriented programming.