Charles Babbage is often referred to as the father of the computer. In the 1830s, he conceptualized and designed the Analytical Engine, which is considered the first mechanical programmable computer. His ideas included fundamental concepts such as the use of an arithmetic logic unit, control flow through conditional branching, and memory, which laid the groundwork for modern computing. Although the Analytical Engine was never completed during his lifetime, Babbage's vision and contributions are essential to the history of computers and the development of computing principles.