The creation of a specific example or instance of something abstract; in philosophy and computer science, the process of creating a particular occurrence of a general concept or class.
From Latin 'instantia' (presence, urgency) from 'instare' (to stand upon, be present) plus '-ation.' The philosophical meaning developed from the idea of abstract concepts 'standing in' concrete reality.
In programming, you instantiate objects from classes - it's like using a cookie cutter (the class) to make actual cookies (instances). Philosophy uses the same metaphor for how universal concepts become particular realities!
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