Analytical Engine (computing device)

The Analytical Engine was an early mechanical computer designed in the 1830s by Charles Babbage. It aimed to perform complex calculations automatically using a system of gears, punch cards, and a central processing unit. Often considered the first concept of a general-purpose computer, it could store data and instructions, allowing it to solve a variety of problems. Although never built in full, its design laid foundational ideas for modern computing, such as programmability and binary operation, making it a pioneering step toward the digital computers we use today.