H. G. Wells' science fiction novel The Time Machine was published in 1895.

The work is widely credited with popularising the idea of time travel, which involves travelling purposefully and selectively forward or backward in time using a vehicle or computer. Wells invented the word "time machine," which is now almost commonly used to describe such a vehicle or unit. The Time Machine has been adapted into three feature films, two television adaptations, and a slew of comic book adaptations. It has also served as an indirect inspiration for a slew of other works of fiction in a variety of media.