What was the first computer like the ones we use today called?

The first computer similar to the ones we use today is referred to as the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC). Developed in the 1940s, ENIAC was one of the earliest electronic general-purpose computers. It operated using vacuum tubes and was capable of performing a wide range of calculations much faster and more efficiently than earlier mechanical or electromechanical machines.

The significance of ENIAC lies in its architecture; it was programmable and had features that allowed it to be adapted for various computational tasks, which is a hallmark of modern computers. Its design included the ability to process data in binary form, which is a fundamental characteristic of today’s computing systems.

In contrast, the other options refer to important historical machines but do not meet the criteria for being the first computer resembling modern systems. The Analytical Engine is a concept proposed by Charles Babbage in the 1830s, which laid the groundwork for future computers but was never completed. The Difference Engine was another early mechanical calculator, also conceived by Babbage, focused on polynomial functions but lacked programmability. While notable in the history of computing, neither of these machines functioned like contemporary computers. Thus, the ENIAC stands out as the first true electronic computer analogous