variable whose meaning is confined to an object of a class is called:Group of answer choiceslocal variablestatic variableinstance variableglobal variable

Breakdown of the Problem

1. Identify the Context: This question pertains to object-oriented programming (OOP) and variable scopes.
2. List of Options: The options provided are:
   • Local variables
   • Static variables
   • Instance variables
   • Global variables

Relevant Concepts

3. Definition of Each Option:
   • Local Variables: These are declared within a method or block and can only be accessed from within that method or block.
   • Static Variables: These are shared among all instances of a class; they belong to the class rather than any instance.
   • Instance Variables: These are unique to each instance of a class, meaning each object of the class has its own copy.
   • Global Variables: These are accessible from any part of the program, usually declared outside any function or class.

Analysis and Detail

4. Evaluating Options:
   • Local Variables do not pertain to the class but to methods.
   • Static Variables are shared across instances and thus not confined to a specific object.
   • Global Variables are accessible throughout the program, not restricted to a specific class instance.
   • Instance Variables are specifically defined within an object of a class and retain their own state for each instance.

Verify and Summarize

5. Correct Answer: After evaluating the definitions and the context, it is clear that the variable whose meaning is confined to an object of a class is called an instance variable.

Final Answer

The correct answer is instance variable.