Ada Lovelace is often credited with inventing the first successful computer program. In the mid-19th century, she worked on Charles Babbage's early mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine. Lovelace's notes included an algorithm for the engine to compute Bernoulli numbers, demonstrating her understanding of the machine's potential. Her contributions are recognized as foundational in the field of computing, and she is regarded as the first computer programmer, inspiring future generations of computer scientists and engineers.