DEC, or Digital Equipment Corporation, was an American company founded in 1957 that played a significant role in the development of computer technology. It was known for creating some of the first minicomputers, which were smaller and more affordable than the mainframe computers of the time. DEC's products, like the PDP series, helped make computing accessible to a wider range of businesses and educational institutions. In the 1970s and 1980s, DEC became a major player in the computer industry, competing with companies like IBM. The company also developed the VAX architecture, which became popular for its versatility and performance. However, DEC struggled to adapt to the rise of personal computers and was eventually acquired by Compaq in 1998.