When was it invented? All 773 inventions
The complete Inventle archive: 773 inventions across 27 categories, from the first stone tools to the modern web. Every entry answers the question “when was it invented?” — the year, the inventor, and the country.
Think you could have guessed the years?
Play today's invention puzzle →Browse by category
- Accessories (3)
- Agriculture (48)
- Clothing (10)
- Communication (74)
- Computing (70)
- Construction (48)
- Domestic (50)
- Electrical (3)
- Electronics (42)
- Energy (48)
- Finance (2)
- Food & Drink (30)
- Health (18)
- Household (29)
- Industrial (10)
- Infrastructure (1)
- Materials (23)
- Medicine (44)
- Music (12)
- Navigation (3)
- Recreation (33)
- Safety (7)
- Science (32)
- Space (6)
- Tools (8)
- Transport (70)
- Warfare (49)
Accessories
- Aviator Sunglasses 1936
- Sunglasses 1929
- Wristwatch 1868
Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry 9000 BC
- Aquaponics 1969
- Aqueduct 700 BC
- Barbed Wire 1874
- Beehive Frame 1852
- Canning 1810
- Center Pivot Irrigation 1952
- Chainsaw 1830
- Cold Storage Warehouse 1881
- Combine Harvester 1835
- Cotton Gin 1794
- Cotton Harvester 1933
- Crop Duster Airplane 1921
- Crop Rotation System 1730
- Drip Irrigation 1959
- Fertilizer (Synthetic) 1909
- Fish Farming 2000 BC
- Genetically Modified Crop 1994
- GPS-Guided Tractor 1996
- Grain Elevator 1843
- Greenhouse 1450
- Hay Baler 1936
- Hoe 5000 BC
- Horse-Drawn Plow 3000 BC
- Hydroponics 1937
- Irrigation Canal 6000 BC
- Mechanical Reaper 1831
- Milking Machine 1878
- Pasteurization 1864
- Pesticide (DDT) 1939
- Plow 4000 BC
- Refrigerated Railroad Car 1867
- Rice Paddy Cultivation 5000 BC
- Rotary Tiller 1910
- Scarecrow 2500 BC
- Scythe 500 BC
- Seed Drill 1701
- Selective Breeding 9000 BC
- Sickle 8000 BC
- Silo 1873
- Sprinkler Irrigation 1871
- Terraced Farming 6000 BC
- Threshing Machine 1788
- Tractor 1892
- Vertical Farming 1999
- Watermill for Grain 300 BC
- Windmill for Grain 650
- Yoke for Oxen 4000 BC
Clothing
- Baseball Cap 1860
- Bikini 1946
- Blue Jeans 1873
- Brassiere 1914
- Polo Shirt 1926
- Raincoat 1823
- Snap Fastener 1885
- Sneakers 1917
- T-Shirt 1904
- Trench Coat 1914
Communication
- 4G LTE Network 2009
- 5G Network 2019
- Alphabet 1800 BC
- Answering Machine 1935
- Audiobook 1932
- Ballpoint Pen 1938
- Bluetooth 1994
- Braille 1824
- Cable Television 1948
- Carbon Copy Paper 1806
- Carrier Pigeon Post 500 BC
- Compact Disc 1982
- Cuneiform Writing 3400 BC
- Email 1971
- Emoji 1999
- Envelope 1845
- Facebook 2004
- Fax Machine 1843
- Fiber Optic Cable 1970
- FM Radio 1933
- Fountain Pen 1827
- GPS Navigation 1978
- Hashtag 2007
- HDMI Cable 2002
- Headphones 1910
- Hieroglyphic Writing 3200 BC
- Ink 2500 BC
- Instagram 2010
- iPhone 2007
- Lithography 1796
- Loudspeaker 1924
- Mailbox 1653
- Megaphone 1878
- Microphone 1876
- Morse Code 1838
- Movable Type 1040
- Neon Sign 1910
- Netflix Streaming 2007
- Newspaper 1605
- Pager 1949
- Paper 105
- Parchment 200 BC
- Pencil 1564
- Phonograph 1877
- Photocopier 1938
- Podcast 2004
- Postage Stamp 1840
- Printing Press 1440
- QR Code 1994
- Quill Pen 600
- Radio 1895
- Reddit 2005
- Rotary Printing Press 1843
- Satellite Communication 1962
- Satellite TV 1962
- Sign Language Alphabet 1620
- Skype 2003
- SMS Text Messaging 1992
- Snapchat 2011
- Spotify 2008
- Tape Recorder 1928
- Telegraph 1837
- Telephone 1876
- Television 1927
- TikTok 2016
- Twitter 2006
- Typewriter 1868
- Walkie-Talkie 1937
- WhatsApp 2009
- Wi-Fi 1997
- Wikipedia 2001
- World Wide Web 1989
- YouTube 2005
- Zoom Video 2013
Computing
- 3D Printer 1984
- Abacus 2700 BC
- Analytical Engine 1837
- Android OS 2008
- Arduino 2005
- Artificial Neural Network 1958
- Barcode 1952
- Barcode Scanner 1974
- Blockchain 2008
- CD-ROM 1985
- Cloud Computing 2006
- Compiler 1952
- Computer 1945
- Computer Virus 1986
- Difference Engine 1822
- Digital Camera 1975
- DRAM 1968
- E-Reader 2004
- eBay 1995
- Ethernet 1973
- Flash Memory 1980
- Floppy Disk 1967
- GIF Format 1987
- Google Search 1998
- GPU 1999
- Graphical User Interface 1973
- Hard Disk Drive 1956
- Inkjet Printer 1976
- Integrated Circuit 1958
- Internet 1969
- iPad 2010
- JPEG Format 1992
- Kindle E-Reader 2007
- Laptop Computer 1981
- Laser Printer 1969
- LIDAR 1961
- Linux OS 1991
- Macintosh Computer 1984
- Mechanical Calculator 1642
- Microprocessor 1971
- Mouse 1964
- MP3 Format 1993
- Operating System 1956
- Optical Mouse 1980
- PayPal 1998
- PDF Format 1993
- Personal Computer 1975
- Programming Language (Fortran) 1957
- Punch Card Machine 1890
- Quantum Computer 1998
- RAM Memory 1947
- Raspberry Pi 2012
- SD Card 1999
- Search Engine 1990
- Slide Rule 1622
- Smartphone 1992
- Smartwatch 2013
- Solid State Drive 1991
- Speech Recognition Software 1952
- Spreadsheet Software 1979
- Tablet Computer 2010
- Touchscreen 1965
- Transistor 1947
- Turing Machine Concept 1936
- USB Flash Drive 2000
- Video Game Console 1972
- Virtual Reality Headset 1968
- Webcam 1991
- Wiki Software 1995
- Windows OS 1985
Construction
- Arch 2000 BC
- Asphalt Road 1824
- Bessemer Steel Process 1856
- Brick 7500 BC
- Bulldozer 1923
- Cement Mixer Truck 1916
- Concrete 3000 BC
- Concrete Mixer 1900
- Concrete Pump 1927
- Crane 515 BC
- Cross-Laminated Timber 1996
- Dome 1250 BC
- Drywall 1916
- Excavator 1835
- Flying Buttress 1170
- Geodesic Dome 1948
- Glass Fiber Insulation 1932
- Glass Window 100
- I-Beam 1849
- Inclined Plane 2600 BC
- Jackhammer 1849
- Lever 5000 BC
- Nail 3400 BC
- Pile Driver 2500 BC
- Plywood 1865
- Portland Cement 1824
- Post-Tensioned Concrete 1886
- Power Drill 1889
- Prefabricated Housing 1837
- Pulley 1500 BC
- Rebar 1849
- Reinforced Concrete 1853
- Riveting Machine 1838
- Roman Aqueduct 312 BC
- Safety Elevator (Passenger) 1857
- Safety Helmet 1919
- Screw 300 BC
- Spirit Level 1661
- Stained Glass 675
- Steel Frame Building 1885
- Suspension Bridge 1826
- Tape Measure 1868
- Tower Crane 1949
- Tunnel Boring Machine 1846
- Wedge 8000 BC
- Welding 1881
- Wrecking Ball 1936
- Wrench 1835
Domestic
- Air Conditioning 1902
- Alarm Clock 1787
- Aluminum Foil 1910
- Blender 1922
- Bubble Wrap 1957
- Can Opener 1858
- Clothes Hanger 1903
- Corkscrew 1795
- Deodorant 1888
- Dishwasher 1886
- Electric Fan 1882
- Electric Iron 1882
- Electric Kettle 1891
- Electric Razor 1928
- Electric Stove 1893
- Flush Toilet 1596
- Garbage Disposal 1927
- Hair Dryer 1890
- Instant Noodles 1958
- Lock and Key 4000 BC
- Matches (Safety) 1844
- Microwave Oven 1945
- Mirror (Glass) 1835
- Paper Clip 1899
- Plastic Wrap 1933
- Pop-Up Toaster 1921
- Post-It Note 1974
- Pressure Cooker 1679
- Refrigerator 1834
- Roomba Robot Vacuum 2002
- Rubber Band 1845
- Safety Pin 1849
- Scissors 1500 BC
- Scotch Tape 1930
- Sewing Machine 1846
- Smoke Detector 1902
- Soap 2800 BC
- Stapler 1866
- Teflon Coating 1938
- Thermos Flask 1892
- Toaster 1893
- Toilet Paper 1857
- Toothbrush 1498
- Toothpaste 5000 BC
- Tupperware 1946
- Umbrella 1000 BC
- Vacuum Cleaner 1901
- Velcro 1941
- Washing Machine 1851
- Zipper 1893
Electrical
- Digital Thermostat 1953
- Light Switch 1884
- Wall Electrical Outlet 1904
Electronics
- 35mm Film Camera 1914
- Amazon Echo 2014
- Apple Watch 2015
- Atari 2600 1977
- Blu-ray Disc 2006
- Cassette Tape 1963
- CD Player 1984
- Color Photography 1861
- Consumer Drone 2013
- Daguerreotype 1839
- Disposable Camera 1986
- Dolby Surround Sound 1982
- DVD 1995
- Electric Cigarette 2003
- Fitness Tracker 2009
- Game Boy 1989
- GoPro Camera 2004
- iPod 2001
- Kodak Camera 1888
- LCD Screen 1968
- Minecraft 2011
- Motion Picture Camera 1888
- Nintendo Entertainment System 1983
- Noise-Canceling Headphones 1989
- Oculus VR Headset 2012
- OLED Display 1987
- Pac-Man 1980
- Photo Booth 1925
- Plasma Display 1964
- PlayStation 1994
- Polaroid Camera 1948
- Pong 1972
- Ring Doorbell 2013
- Selfie Stick 1983
- Smart TV 2008
- Super Mario Bros 1985
- Tetris 1984
- VHS Videocassette 1976
- Vinyl Record LP 1948
- Walkman 1979
- Wireless Earbuds 2015
- Xbox 2001
Energy
- Alternating Current Motor 1887
- Arc Lamp 1809
- Bellows 1500 BC
- Bunsen Burner 1855
- Candle 3000 BC
- Compressed Natural Gas Engine 1860
- Dry Cell Battery 1886
- Dynamo 1832
- Electric Battery 1800
- Electric Generator 1831
- Electric Motor 1834
- Electrical Grid 1882
- Electrical Relay 1835
- Fluorescent Lamp 1926
- Flywheel Energy Storage 1950
- Fuel Cell 1839
- Gas Turbine 1903
- Gaslight 1792
- Geothermal Power Plant 1904
- Hydroelectric Dam 1882
- Incandescent Light Bulb 1879
- Kerosene Lamp 1853
- Lava Lamp 1963
- LED Light 1962
- Leyden Jar 1745
- Lightning Rod 1752
- Lithium-Ion Battery 1991
- Magneto 1832
- Match 1826
- Neon Light 1910
- Nuclear Reactor 1942
- Oil Lamp 4000 BC
- Oil Refinery 1856
- Perovskite Solar Cell 2009
- Photovoltaic Panel 1883
- Rechargeable Battery 1859
- Solar Cell 1954
- Steam Engine 1712
- Stirling Engine 1816
- Superconductor 1911
- Tesla Coil 1891
- Thermocouple 1821
- Tidal Power Station 1966
- Transformer 1885
- Voltaic Pile 1800
- Waterwheel 300 BC
- Watt Steam Engine 1769
- Wind Turbine 1887
Finance
- ATM 1967
- Credit Card 1950
Food & Drink
- Baby Formula 1867
- Bubble Gum 1928
- Chewing Gum 1869
- Chocolate Bar 1847
- Coca-Cola 1886
- Coffee Filter 1908
- Condensed Milk 1856
- Cornflakes 1894
- Cotton Candy 1897
- Drinking Straw 1888
- Energy Drink 1987
- Espresso Machine 1884
- Frozen Food 1924
- Ice Cream Cone 1896
- Instant Coffee 1901
- Jello 1897
- K-Cup Coffee Pod 1992
- Ketchup 1876
- Margarine 1869
- Milk Chocolate 1875
- Peanut Butter 1884
- Pepsi-Cola 1893
- Popsicle 1923
- Sliced Bread 1928
- Spam 1937
- Tabasco Sauce 1868
- Tea Bag 1908
- Tetra Pak 1951
- TV Dinner 1953
- Worcestershire Sauce 1837
Health
- Chemotherapy 1942
- Dental Floss 1819
- Electric Wheelchair 1953
- EpiPen 1977
- Fluoride Toothpaste 1914
- Gene Therapy 1990
- Hand Sanitizer 1966
- Heart Transplant 1967
- Ibuprofen 1961
- IVF 1978
- Lip Balm 1880
- Nail Clippers 1875
- Rabies Vaccine 1885
- Stent 1986
- Sunscreen 1938
- Surgical Robot 2000
- Tampon 1929
- Viagra 1998
Household
- Automatic Coffee Maker 1954
- Bottle Cap 1892
- Ceiling Fan 1882
- Clothes Dryer 1938
- Combination Lock 1878
- Desk Lamp 1937
- Electric Blanket 1912
- Electric Oven 1896
- Electric Toothbrush 1954
- Flashlight 1899
- Flyswatter 1900
- Food Processor 1971
- Ice Cube Tray 1933
- Ironing Board 1858
- Kitchen Sponge 1937
- Lawn Mower 1830
- Lint Roller 1956
- Metal Door Knob 1878
- Mop 1893
- Paper Napkin 1887
- Paper Plate 1904
- Paper Towel Roll 1907
- Slow Cooker 1940
- Soap Dispenser 1865
- Spray Can 1927
- Tissue Box 1924
- Trash Bag 1950
- Window Blinds 1769
- Ziplock Bag 1968
Industrial
- Assembly Line 1913
- CNC Machine 1952
- Conveyor Belt 1901
- Flying Shuttle 1733
- Forklift 1917
- Industrial Robot 1961
- Jacquard Loom 1804
- Power Loom 1785
- Shipping Container 1956
- Spinning Jenny 1764
Infrastructure
- Fire Hydrant 1801
Materials
- Bakelite 1907
- Carbon Fiber 1958
- Cellophane 1908
- Corrugated Cardboard 1856
- Fiberglass 1932
- Galvanized Steel 1837
- Gore-Tex 1969
- Gorilla Glass 2007
- Kevlar 1965
- Nylon 1935
- Plastic Bottle 1973
- Plexiglass 1933
- Polyester 1941
- Polyethylene 1933
- PVC 1926
- Rayon 1894
- Safety Glass 1903
- Silicone 1943
- Spandex 1958
- Stainless Steel 1913
- Superglue 1942
- Tempered Glass 1874
- Vulcanized Rubber 1839
Medicine
- 3D-Printed Prosthetics 2008
- Anesthesia 1846
- Antiseptic Surgery 1867
- Artificial Heart 1982
- Aspirin 1897
- Bandage 2500 BC
- Bifocal Glasses 1784
- Blood Transfusion 1818
- Contact Lenses 1887
- Contraceptive Pill 1960
- CPR Technique 1960
- CRISPR Gene Editing 2012
- CT Scanner 1971
- Defibrillator 1947
- Dental Braces 1819
- Dental Drill 1871
- Dialysis Machine 1943
- EKG Machine 1903
- Eyeglasses 1286
- Hearing Aid 1898
- Incubator for Infants 1880
- Insulin 1921
- Iron Lung 1927
- Laser Eye Surgery 1987
- Latex Gloves 1964
- Microscope 1590
- Morphine Isolation 1804
- MRI Scanner 1971
- mRNA Vaccine 2020
- Nitroglycerin Medicine 1879
- Pacemaker 1958
- Penicillin 1928
- Polio Vaccine 1955
- Prosthetic Limb 1500 BC
- Pulse Oximeter 1974
- Scalpel 3000 BC
- Stethoscope 1816
- Surgical Gloves 1890
- Syringe 1853
- Thermometer 1714
- Ultrasound Imaging 1956
- Vaccination 1796
- Wheelchair 1595
- X-Ray Machine 1895
Music
- Accordion 1822
- Auto-Tune 1997
- Drum Machine 1959
- Electric Bass Guitar 1951
- Electric Guitar 1931
- Electric Organ 1935
- Harmonica 1821
- Metronome 1815
- MIDI 1983
- Piano 1700
- Saxophone 1846
- Synthesizer 1964
Recreation
- Barbie Doll 1959
- Baseball 1845
- Basketball 1891
- Crossword Puzzle 1913
- Dungeons and Dragons 1974
- Etch A Sketch 1960
- Ferris Wheel 1893
- Frisbee 1948
- Hula Hoop 1958
- Jigsaw Puzzle 1767
- LEGO Bricks 1958
- Monopoly 1935
- Pinball Machine 1931
- Play-Doh 1956
- Pogo Stick 1919
- Roller Coaster 1884
- Rubik's Cube 1974
- Scrabble 1938
- Scuba Diving Equipment 1943
- Silly Putty 1943
- Slinky 1943
- Slot Machine 1895
- Super Soaker 1990
- Surfboard 1926
- Table Tennis 1880
- Teddy Bear 1902
- Tennis 1873
- Trampoline 1936
- Trivial Pursuit 1979
- Volleyball 1895
- Water Ski 1922
- Wetsuit 1952
- Yo-Yo 1928
Safety
- Burglar Alarm 1858
- Child Safety Seat 1962
- Ejector Seat 1942
- Fire Alarm 1852
- Fire Extinguisher 1819
- Fire Sprinkler 1874
- Life Jacket 1854
Science
- Air Pump 1649
- Atomic Clock 1955
- Barometer 1643
- Camera Obscura 1021
- Cathode Ray Tube 1897
- Centrifuge 1864
- Chromatography 1903
- Cryogenics 1877
- Electron Microscope 1931
- Gyroscope 1852
- Holography 1948
- Hourglass 1300
- Hubble Space Telescope 1990
- James Webb Space Telescope 2021
- Laser 1960
- Particle Accelerator 1930
- Pendulum Clock 1656
- Periodic Table 1869
- pH Meter 1934
- Photography 1826
- Radar Telescope 1937
- Richter Scale 1935
- Seismograph 132
- Sextant 1731
- Spectroscope 1814
- Stroboscope 1832
- Sundial 1500 BC
- Telescope 1608
- Thermoscope 1593
- Vacuum Pump 1650
- Voltmeter 1820
- Water Clock 1500 BC
Space
- Communications Satellite 1962
- Liquid Fuel Rocket 1926
- Mars Rover 1997
- Reusable Rocket 2015
- Space Shuttle 1981
- Sputnik 1957
Tools
- Binder Clip 1910
- Cash Register 1879
- Correction Fluid 1951
- Highlighter 1963
- Mechanical Pencil 1822
- Swivel Chair 1775
- Tape Dispenser 1932
- Three Ring Binder 1886
Transport
- Airbag 1953
- Airplane 1903
- Anti-lock Brakes 1971
- Automobile 1886
- Bicycle 1817
- Bicycle Bell 1877
- Bicycle Chain 1880
- Bicycle Pedal 1861
- Bullet Train 1964
- Cable Car 1873
- Canoe 8000 BC
- Catalytic Converter 1950
- Catamaran 1500 BC
- Chariot 2000 BC
- Compass 1040
- Cruise Control 1948
- Diesel Engine 1893
- Electric Car 1884
- Electric Scooter 1996
- Electric Train 1879
- Elevator 1854
- Escalator 1891
- Ford Model T 1908
- Glider 1853
- Gondola 1094
- Hang Glider 1891
- Helicopter 1939
- Horse Collar 500
- Hot Air Balloon 1783
- Hovercraft 1956
- Internal Combustion Engine 1860
- Jet Engine 1930
- Jet Ski 1972
- Kayak 4000 BC
- Kick Scooter 1817
- Maglev Train 1979
- Minivan 1984
- Monorail 1821
- Motorboat 1886
- Motorcycle 1885
- Motorhome 1910
- Mountain Bike 1977
- Outboard Motor 1907
- Parachute 1783
- Parking Meter 1935
- Pneumatic Tire 1888
- Rearview Mirror 1911
- Refrigerated Truck 1938
- Rickshaw 1869
- Roller Skates 1760
- Sailboat 5000 BC
- Seatbelt 1959
- Segway 2001
- Shopping Cart 1937
- Skateboard 1958
- Ski Lift 1936
- Snowboard 1965
- Snowmobile 1937
- Speedboat 1902
- Steam Locomotive 1804
- Steamboat 1807
- Steering Wheel 1894
- Stirrup 300
- Submarine 1620
- Traffic Cone 1940
- Traffic Light 1868
- Trolleybus 1882
- Wheel 3500 BC
- Windshield Wiper 1903
- Zeppelin 1900
Warfare
- AK-47 1947
- Armor (Chain Mail) 300 BC
- Atomic Bomb 1945
- Ballistic Missile 1944
- Battering Ram 2500 BC
- Bayonet 1640
- Bulletproof Glass 1903
- Cannon 1326
- Catapult 400 BC
- Claymore Mine 1956
- Crossbow 700 BC
- Cruise Missile 1971
- Drone (Military UAV) 1995
- Dynamite 1867
- Flamethrower 1901
- Flintlock Musket 1610
- Gas Mask 1914
- Gatling Gun 1862
- Greek Fire 672
- Gunpowder 850
- Hand Grenade 1000
- Iron Maiden (Torture Device) 1515
- Katana 700
- Kevlar Body Armor 1965
- Landmine 1862
- Longbow 1250
- Machine Gun 1884
- Musket 1521
- Napalm 1942
- Night Vision Goggles 1939
- Nuclear Submarine 1954
- Pepper Spray 1960
- Periscope 1854
- Radar 1935
- Revolver 1836
- Shield 3000 BC
- Siege Tower 2000 BC
- Smokeless Powder 1884
- Sonar 1906
- Stealth Aircraft 1981
- Submarine Mine 1776
- Sword 3300 BC
- Tank 1916
- Taser 1974
- Tomahawk 6000 BC
- Torpedo 1866
- Trebuchet 500
- Trident 3000 BC
- War Chariot 1700 BC