An ___ is a ___ that contains ___ and ___ enabling users to create ___.

An Apex class serves as a blueprint for creating objects in Salesforce programming. It encapsulates both data and behavior, allowing users to define properties (variables) and methods (functions) that operate on that data. This structure enables developers to create specific functionality tailored to business needs.

In this context, the Apex class contains methods that implement the logic and variables that hold data, facilitating the development of applications or features within Salesforce. It is integral for building reusable components and ensuring that business logic is efficiently organized.

This option correctly highlights the concept of encapsulation prevalent in object-oriented programming, where an Apex class acts as a container for methods and variables that are essential in the creation of Salesforce functionalities.