# Charles Goldfarb

> the father of SGML and grandfather of HTML and the World Wide Web

**Wikidata**: [Q92923](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q92923)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Goldfarb)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/charles-goldfarb

## Summary
Charles Goldfarb is an American computer scientist best known as the "father of SGML" (Standard Generalized Markup Language), a foundational technology that indirectly contributed to the development of HTML and the World Wide Web. He was a pioneer in document markup standards and worked at IBM and Innodata.

## Biography
- Born: 1939-11-26
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Harvard Law School (Juris Doctor)
- Known for: Co-developing SGML, a markup language standard that influenced HTML and the web
- Employer(s): IBM, Innodata (2000–2005)
- Field(s): Computer science, software industry

## Contributions
Charles Goldfarb, along with Ed Mosher and Ray Lorie, co-designed SGML in the late 1960s and early 1970s while working at IBM. SGML became an ISO standard in 1986 and laid the groundwork for HTML, the language that powers the World Wide Web. His work defined how structured documents are formatted, enabling interoperability across systems. Goldfarb later founded Innodata, a company focused on information technology, and continued advancing document markup technologies.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Charles Goldfarb best known for?
A: Charles Goldfarb is best known as the co-inventor of SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language), a foundational standard that influenced the development of HTML and the World Wide Web.

### Q: Where did Charles Goldfarb work?
A: He worked at IBM and later founded Innodata, an information technology company, where he served as CEO from 2000 to 2005.

### Q: What was his educational background?
A: Goldfarb earned a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.

### Q: How did SGML impact the internet?
A: SGML provided the structural framework for HTML, the language that enables web pages, making it a critical precursor to the modern internet.

### Q: What other identifiers does he have?
A: He holds identifiers such as ISNI (0000000115844175), VIAF (193331), and a Library of Congress authority ID (n90666379).

## Why They Matter
Charles Goldfarb's creation of SGML revolutionized document markup, enabling standardized formatting across industries. His work indirectly shaped HTML, the backbone of the World Wide Web, making it possible for documents to be shared and displayed consistently. Without SGML, the internet as we know it would lack the structured foundation that allows for seamless content delivery. His contributions remain foundational in computing and information technology.

## Notable For
- Co-inventor of SGML, a key precursor to HTML and the web.
- Worked at IBM, where he developed early document markup standards.
- Founded Innodata, an IT company, and served as its CEO.
- Earned a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.
- Holds multiple academic and professional identifiers, including ISNI and VIAF.

## Body
### Early Career and SGML Development
Charles Goldfarb, along with Ed Mosher and Ray Lorie, designed SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) in the late 1960s and early 1970s while employed by IBM. SGML became an ISO standard in 1986, defining a method for structuring documents that influenced the development of HTML, the language used for web pages.

### Industry Influence
Goldfarb's work at IBM laid the groundwork for modern document markup, enabling interoperability across systems. His contributions were recognized internationally, with SGML becoming a foundational technology in computing.

### Later Career and Innodata
After leaving IBM, Goldfarb founded Innodata in 1988, a company focused on information technology. He served as CEO from 2000 to 2005, continuing to advance document markup technologies.

### Education and Professional Recognition
Goldfarb earned a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School and holds multiple academic and professional identifiers, including ISNI (0000000115844175) and VIAF (193331).

### Legacy
Goldfarb's work remains foundational in computing, with SGML indirectly shaping the World Wide Web through its influence on HTML. His contributions continue to impact document formatting and information technology.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.sgmlsource.com/press/CGbioFull.htm)
2. International Standard Name Identifier
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. CiNii Research
5. IdRef
6. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File