The built-in objects are, well, built into Python. They're there when we start Python, usually there when we finish. So how can we create new objects?

New objects cannot pop out of thin air. They have to be built using existing objects. Specifically, we can only create objects that are at the tail-end of a relationship (i.e. tail-end of an arrow).

class C(object): 
    pass 

class D(object):
    pass

class E(C, D): 
    pass

class MyList(list): 
    pass 

	The class statement tells Python to create a new type by subtyping an existing type.
	The body of a class definition would usually provide useful methods and more.
	Multiple bases are fine too.
	Most built-in types can be subtyped (but not all).

After the above example, C.__bases__ contains <type 'object'>, and MyList.__bases__ contains <type 'list'>.

The term class is traditionally used to imply an object created by the class statement. However, classes are now synonymous with types. Built-in types are usually not referred to as classes, but that's more of a convention thing and in reality types and classes are exactly the same thing. This is important so let's put it in a rule:

This book prefers using the term type for both built-in and user created types.