Yahoo! is an American web services provider that was founded in 1994 by Jerry Yang and David Filo. Initially starting as a directory of websites, it quickly evolved into a popular search engine and web portal, offering news, email, and various online services. Over the years, Yahoo! expanded its offerings to include social media, finance, and entertainment content. Despite facing stiff competition from companies like Google and Facebook, Yahoo! remains a recognizable name in the tech industry, although it has undergone several ownership changes and restructuring efforts.