EDSAC, or the Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator, was one of the first stored-program computers, developed at the University of Cambridge in the late 1940s. It became operational in 1949 and was designed to perform complex calculations for scientific research. The machine used a form of memory called delay line storage, which allowed it to store and retrieve data efficiently. EDSAC played a significant role in the development of computer science and influenced later computers, paving the way for advancements in programming and computing technology.