ARPA, or the Advanced Research Projects Agency, is a branch of the United States Department of Defense. Established in 1958, its primary goal is to develop emerging technologies for military use. Over the years, ARPA has played a crucial role in funding and fostering innovations that have had significant impacts on various fields. One of ARPA's most notable contributions is the development of the ARPANET, the precursor to the modern Internet. This network was designed to enable communication between different research institutions, paving the way for the interconnected digital world we know today.