A typewriter is a mechanical device used for writing text on paper. It consists of a keyboard that, when pressed, strikes an inked ribbon against paper, creating letters and symbols. Typewriters were widely used in the 19th and 20th centuries for writing letters, documents, and manuscripts, before the advent of computers. The first commercially successful typewriter was invented by Christopher Latham Sholes in 1868. Over the years, various models and designs emerged, including electric typewriters, which made typing easier and faster. Although largely replaced by computers, typewriters are still appreciated by some for their tactile feel and simplicity.