What invention allowed computers to become smaller and more powerful by replacing vacuum tubes?

Transistors played a crucial role in the evolution of computers by significantly reducing their size and enhancing their power and efficiency. Vacuum tubes, which were large, consumed a lot of power, and generated significant heat, were the primary components in early computers for processing and controlling signals. When transistors were introduced, they provided a much smaller, more reliable, and energy-efficient alternative.

Transistors function as electronic switches or amplifiers and allow for the development of smaller circuit designs. This transition from vacuum tubes to transistors directly facilitated the miniaturization of electronic components and paved the way for the development of more advanced technologies. Over time, the integration of transistors into larger systems, such as integrated circuits, further multiplied their effectiveness, leading to the powerful, compact computers we use today.

While microprocessors, integrated circuits, and relays all have significant roles in the history of computing, it is the invention of transistors that was essential in moving away from the bulky and inefficient vacuum tubes, marking a major technological advancement in computer engineering.