An invention is a breakthrough in thought that is constructed or applied in physical reality that leads to a new creation that usually has practical application. Many inventions involve improvements in technological advancement and many have a profound impact across humanity. Some examples of inventions would be computers, automobiles, and airplanes.
Inventions usually build upon previous knowledge. In the minds of great visionaries such as Leonardo da Vinci, inventions are actually conceptualized hundreds of years before the technology is developed to make them reality.