IBM, or International Business Machines Corporation, is an American multinational technology corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, and present in over 175 countries. It was founded in 1911 as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) and was later renamed to IBM in 1924. IBM specializes in computer hardware, middleware, and software, and provides hosting and consulting services in areas ranging from mainframe computers to nanotechnology. IBM is one of the worlds largest IT companies, with operations in over 170 countries. IBM is known for its hardware and software products, including computers, servers, storage systems, and networking equipment. It also provides consulting, technology, and business services, such as cloud computing, data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) . IBMs research and development efforts have contributed to numerous technological innovations, including the development of the first programmable computer, the first hard drive, and the first computer virus. IBM is consistently ranked among the worlds most recognizable, valuable, and admired brands. As of 2022, IBM has over 297,900 employees worldwide.