In an object database, what are 'methods'?

In an object database, 'methods' refer to software programs that define operations on data. This concept is integral to object-oriented programming and databases where data is represented as objects. Each object can contain both data (attributes) and methods (functions).

Methods are used to manipulate the data within those objects, allowing for behaviors to be encapsulated alongside the data itself. This design structure facilitates a clearer relationship between the data and the operations that can be performed on it, promoting reusability and ease of maintenance in the software development process.

While managing database interfaces and creating new records involve other important functions within database systems, they do not encapsulate the broader functionality and purpose of methods within an object-oriented paradigm. Coding errors can occur during the implementation of methods but are not representative of what methods are. Therefore, option B correctly identifies the role of methods in an object database context.