Ray Tomlinson, the man widely credited with inventing email, has died aged 74.

Tomlinson invented direct email messages in 1971. Before his invention, electronic messages could be shared only on a very limited network, CNN reported.

Among those paying tribute was Gmail, one of many offshoots of Tomlinson's creation.

"Thank you, Ray Tomlinson, for inventing email and putting the @ sign on the map," Gmail's Twitter account said.