An "attribute" is a characteristic or quality that describes a person, object, or concept. For example, the color of a car, the height of a building, or the intelligence of a student are all attributes. These qualities help to define and differentiate items or individuals from one another. In programming, attributes can refer to properties of an object in a programming language like Python or Java. For instance, an attribute of a car object might include its make, model, and year. Understanding attributes is essential for organizing and managing information effectively.