What is a base class?

A base class is defined as a class that provides properties and methods for other classes to inherit, which makes option B the correct choice. The primary role of a base class is to serve as a foundational structure upon which derived or child classes can build. It encapsulates common functionality and attributes that can be reused and extended by subclasses, promoting code reusability and a hierarchical structure in the design of object-oriented systems.

In many programming paradigms, a base class can provide both concrete (implemented) methods and properties, as well as the capacity for derived classes to override specific behaviors or extend functionalities. This mechanism of inheritance is a core principle of object-oriented programming, allowing for the creation of complex systems based on simpler, reusable components.

The other provided options do not accurately capture the concept of a base class. Some may describe characteristics of related programming structures, such as an interface or an abstract class, but these concepts are distinct from what constitutes a base class. An interface defines a contract of methods that must be implemented but does not provide any actual implementation, while a class containing only abstract methods is specifically an abstract class, which serves a slightly different purpose in inheritance and instantiation. Therefore, option B precisely identifies the fundamental aspect of a base class within object