What is the purpose of an object in programming?

An object in programming is an instance of a class that combines data (state) and methods (behavior) for working with that data. In Java, objects are used to model real-world entities and help organize code into interacting components.

For example, an "Automobile" object might have properties (color, make, speed) and methods (drive, brake). This helps structure the program, making it more understandable and maintainable.