Autonomy Corporation was a British software company founded in 1996, known for its advanced data analysis and search technologies. It specialized in unstructured data management, helping organizations to process and analyze large volumes of information efficiently. The company's flagship product, IDOL (Intelligent Data Operating Layer), enabled users to search and retrieve data from various sources. In 2011, Hewlett-Packard acquired Autonomy for approximately $11 billion, aiming to enhance its software portfolio. However, the acquisition faced controversy and legal challenges, particularly regarding allegations of accounting irregularities. Despite these issues, Autonomy's technology continues to influence the fields of data analytics and information retrieval.