The Analytical Engine was a proposed mechanical general-purpose computer designed by Charles Babbage in the 1830s. It was intended to perform any calculation and was notable for its use of punched cards, which were inspired by the Jacquard loom. The design included components like an arithmetic logic unit, control flow through conditional branching, and memory. Although the Analytical Engine was never completed during Babbage's lifetime, it laid the groundwork for modern computing concepts. Its design influenced later computers and highlighted the potential for machines to perform complex calculations automatically, paving the way for future advancements in computer science.