Thomas Edison is often credited with inventing the lightbulb, though he improved upon earlier designs rather than inventing it outright. His significant contribution was the development of a practical and longer-lasting incandescent bulb in 1879, which incorporated a carbon filament and a vacuum to prevent oxidation. Edison's work in his Menlo Park laboratory led to the first commercially viable electric light system, transforming how people used artificial light in their homes and workplaces. This innovation was pivotal in ushering in the age of electricity, profoundly impacting daily life and industry, and making Edison's name synonymous with invention and entrepreneurship.