Explain the purpose and usage of the __init__ method in Python classes. How does it differ from other class methods?

The __init__ method in Python classes is a special method used for initializing object instances. It gets called when you create a new object of the class. It allows you to set the initial state of the object by defining attributes and their values. Unlike other class methods, __init__ is automatically called when you create a new object, ensuring that the object is properly initialized before you work with it.