---
title: Difference Engine
author: Science Museum, London
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17307/difference-engine/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2023-04-20
---

# Difference Engine

_Authored by Science Museum, London_

## Image File

[![Difference Engine](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/17307.png)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/17307.png)

## Image Caption

The Difference Engine was invented by the Englishman Charles Babbage (1791-1871) in 1822. This example is a modern model of Babbage's [Mark](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Mark/) II, designed c. 1848. Like most other inventions of the [Industrial Revolution](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Industrial_Revolution/), Babbage built on the ideas of others to create a machine that was, in effect, the first complex computer. Babbage designed his machine to calculate mathematical functions and print the results in the form of tables. The machine worked by hand-cranking, and Babbage was seriously hampered by the lack of technology to make the parts he really needed. Nevertheless, the machine could handle 31-digit numbers, and it showed the way forward as a new method of performing mathematical calculations too complex for humans to perform without the risk of making errors.

[Science](https://www.worldhistory.org/science/) Museum, London.

## Cite This Work

### APA
London, S. M. (2023, April 19). Difference Engine. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17307/difference-engine/>
### Chicago
London, Science Museum,. "Difference Engine." *World History Encyclopedia*, April 19, 2023. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17307/difference-engine/>.
### MLA
London, Science Museum,. "Difference Engine." *World History Encyclopedia*, 19 Apr 2023, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17307/difference-engine/>.

## License & Copyright

[Original image](https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co526657/difference-engine-no-2-designed-by-charles-babbage-built-by-science-museum-difference-engine) by **Science Museum, London**. Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 19 April 2023. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.