What term refers to an occurrence or example of a specific entity within programming?

The term that refers to an occurrence or example of a specific entity within programming is "instances." In object-oriented programming, a class serves as a blueprint for creating objects, which are the actual entities. When an object is created from a class, it is considered an instance of that class. Each instance can have its own unique attributes and behaviors based on the structure defined by the class.

This concept is fundamental to object-oriented design, as it allows programmers to create multiple objects that share the same properties and methods defined in the class, yet maintain their individuality. For example, if you have a class called "Car," an instance of that class might represent a specific car, such as a red Honda Civic. Each individual car object created from that "Car" class would be an instance, showcasing the characteristics and functionalities defined in the class while being distinct from other instances of the same class.