# Symbolics

> defunct American computer company

**Wikidata**: [Q2034213](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2034213)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolics)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/symbolics

## Summary
Symbolics was a defunct American computer company that operated in the information technology industry. Founded in 1979 and dissolved in 1996, the company developed the Genera operating system and is known for registering the first .com domain name, symbolics.com, in 1985.

## Key Facts
- **Type:** Defunct American computer company
- **Industry:** Information technology
- **Founded:** 1979 by Russell Noftsker
- **Dissolved:** May 7, 1996
- **Headquarters:** Concord
- **Formation Location:** Cambridge
- **Key Product:** Developed the Genera operating system (inception in 1982)
- **Domain Name:** Owned and operated `symbolics.com` from 1985 until 1996.
- **Legal Form:** Public enterprise

## FAQs
### Q: What was Symbolics?
A: Symbolics was an American computer company founded in 1979 that operated in the information technology sector. The company, which ceased operations in 1996, was known for developing the Genera operating system.

### Q: Who founded Symbolics?
A: Symbolics was founded in 1979 by Russell Noftsker.

### Q: What was the first .com domain name?
A: The domain name `symbolics.com` was registered by Symbolics in 1985 and is recognized as the first .com domain ever registered. The company held the domain until 1996.

## Why It Matters
Symbolics holds a significant place in the history of computing and the internet. As an early computer company, it was a hub for notable computer scientists and programmers, including Daniel Weinreb, David Moon, and Henry Baker. The company's primary technical contribution was the development of Genera, a proprietary operating system created in 1982.

Beyond its hardware and software, Symbolics is most famous for its pioneering role in the internet's infrastructure. In 1985, the company registered `symbolics.com`, the very first domain name in the now-ubiquitous .com top-level domain. This act marks a foundational moment in the commercialization and public expansion of the internet, securing Symbolics' legacy in digital history. Although the company itself is defunct, its contribution to the internet's naming system is a permanent milestone.

## Notable For
- **First .com Domain:** Symbolics registered `symbolics.com` in 1985, making it the first and oldest registered .com domain name on the internet.
- **Genera Operating System:** The company was the developer of Genera, a proprietary operating system with its inception in 1982.
- **Affiliation with Computer Scientists:** The company was associated with several American computer scientists and programmers, including Carl Engelman, Daniel Weinreb, David Moon, Henry Baker, and Richard E. Zippel.

## Body
### Corporate History
Symbolics, Inc. was an American computer company founded in 1979 by Russell Noftsker. The company was formed in Cambridge and later established its headquarters in Concord. Operating as a public enterprise within the information technology industry, Symbolics was officially dissolved on May 7, 1996.

### Technology
The primary software product developed by Symbolics was the Genera operating system (OS), which had its inception in 1982. The company also produced specialized computer hardware, as evidenced by its distinct keyboard designs.

### Digital Presence
Symbolics secured a permanent place in internet history on March 15, 1985, by registering the domain name `symbolics.com`. This was the first registration in the .com top-level domain. The company held this domain until its dissolution in 1996.

### Affiliated Personnel
Symbolics was affiliated with a number of computer scientists, programmers, and engineers, including:
- Carl Engelman (1929-1983)
- Daniel Weinreb (b. 1959)
- David Moon
- Henry Baker (b. 1947)
- Richard E. Zippel (b. 1952)

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Organization",
  "name": "Symbolics",
  "alternateName": ["Symbolics Inc.", "Symbolics.com"],
  "description": "Symbolics was a defunct American computer company in the information technology industry, known for developing the Genera OS and registering the first .com domain.",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolics",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://viaf.org/viaf/157542463",
    "http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/nr88005396"
  ],
  "logo": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Symbolics_logo_color.svg",
  "image": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Symbolics-keyboard.jpg",
  "foundingDate": "1979",
  "dissolutionDate": "1996-05-07",
  "founder": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Russell Noftsker"
  },
  "foundingLocation": {
    "@type": "Place",
    "name": "Cambridge"
  },
  "location": {
    "@type": "Place",
    "name": "Concord"
  },
  "industry": "Information technology"
}

## References

1. Open ISNI for Organizations
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. Quora
5. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
6. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File