Instance Variables:

• Associated with an object or instance of a class.
• Each instance has its own set of instance variables.
• Exist throughout the lifetime of the object.
• Accessed using object references.

Local Variables:

• Declared within a method or block of code.
• Limited to the scope where they are declared.
• Exist only during the execution of that method or block.
• Accessed only within the method or block where they are declared.

An instance variable is a variable that is declared in a class but outside a method while the local variable is a variable declared within a method or a constructor

A local variable is one that is declared inside a method or constructor as opposed to an instance variable, which is one that is declared in a class but outside of a method. So, the major distinction between an instance variable and a local variable is this.