In Python, what is a method?

A method is defined as a function that is associated with an object and is typically defined within a class. This connection to a class allows methods to operate on data contained within the object (instance) of that class. When a method is called, it has access to the instance's attributes via the self parameter, which is a reference to the instance itself.

The concept of methods is fundamental to object-oriented programming in Python, as they encapsulate behaviors that are relevant to the instances of classes. For example, if you have a class Car, you could define a method drive() within that class that gives instructions on how the car should behave when it is driven.

The other options describe different concepts in Python: built-in functions are pre-defined and can be called from anywhere in the code, functions defined outside a class are simply standalone functions, and a looping structure refers to constructs like for or while loops that are used to repeat a block of code. These do not fit the definition of methods as they lack the association with a class and the instance-specific behavior that methods embody.