What method is automatically called when an object is created?

The method that is automatically called when an object is created in Python is the constructor method, which is denoted as __init__. This special method is designed to initialize the newly created object. When an instance of a class is created, the __init__ method is invoked immediately after the instance is created, allowing for any necessary setup or initialization, such as setting initial values for instance attributes.

Using __init__, developers can also enforce certain rules for instantiating objects, such as requiring certain parameters upon creation. This way, every time an object is instantiated, it can be initialized consistently to ensure it starts in a valid state.

Other options, while they may sound relevant, do not serve the same purpose. For example, __new__ is another special method that is responsible for creating a new instance of a class, but it is called before __init__ and is less commonly overridden in typical class implementations. The options __initialize__ and __start__ are not standard methods in Python and do not have any specific functionality related to object creation.