A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits visible light when an electric current passes through it. The light is not particularly bright, but in most LEDs it is monochromatic, occurring at a single wavelength. The output from an LED can range from red (at a wavelength of approximately 700 nanometers) to blue-violet (about 400 nanometers). Some LEDs emit infrared (IR) energy (830 nanometers or longer); such a device is known as an infrared-emitting diode (IRED).
“LED” Stands for “Light-Emitting Diode.” An LED is an electronic device that emits light when an electrical current is passed through it. Early LED’s produced only red light, but modern LED’s can produce several different colors, including red, green, and blue (RGB) light. Recent advances in LED technology have made it possible for LED’s to produce white light as well.