Explaining the Difference between a Function and a Method in Object-Oriented Programming

In object-oriented programming, the main difference between a function and a method lies in their association with classes and objects.

Function: A function is a standalone block of code that performs a specific task. It is not associated with any specific object or class. Functions can be called independently and are not tied to any particular data or object instance.

Method: On the other hand, a method is a function that is associated with a specific class. Methods are defined within a class and operate on the data contained within that class. They are invoked on objects of that class and have access to the object's attributes.

Therefore, the key difference is that a function is independent of any class or object, while a method is a function that is tied to a specific class and operates on its data.