The invention of computers cannot be attributed to a single individual as it evolved over time, but Charles Babbage is widely recognized as the "father of the computer." He originated the concept of a digital programmable computer in the early 19th century, designing the first mechanical computer known as the Difference Engine around 1822. He also conceptualized the Analytical Engine, which had all the fundamental elements of a modern computer, including memory and programmable input via punch cards. Although Babbage's machines were never completed in his lifetime, his ideas laid the groundwork for future developments in computing. Later on, Alan Turing's work further developed the theoretical foundation of modern computers, and the first electronic general- purpose digital computer (ENIAC) was built in the 1940s. Therefore, Charles Babbage is credited for inventing the foundational concept of the computer, while others contributed important advancements in the 20th century.
