Attributes are characteristics or qualities that define an object, person, or concept. They help to describe and differentiate items by highlighting their specific features. For example, the attributes of a car might include its color, size, and fuel efficiency, which help potential buyers understand what makes that particular vehicle unique. In programming, attributes refer to properties associated with objects in a class. For instance, a dog class might have attributes like breed, age, and color. These attributes provide essential information about the object and can be used to perform various operations or functions within the code.