What does a class represent in an object model?

In an object model, a class fundamentally represents an entity. It serves as a blueprint for creating objects, encapsulating data for the entity in the form of attributes and defining behaviors through methods. Essentially, a class defines the structure and behavior that objects created from it will have, which makes it a key component in the object-oriented paradigm.

When you think of a class, it encompasses the concept of a specific type of object that shares common characteristics and behaviors, hence qualifying it as an entity in the context of modeling. Understanding classes in this way is vital for designing a robust object-oriented system, as it allows for clarity in representing real-world objects or concepts within your application.