Computer Hardware Terms, Glossary and Dictionary

A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits incoherent narrow-spectrum light when electrically biased in the forward direction. This effect is a form of electroluminescence. The color of the emitted light depends on the chemical composition of the semiconducting material used, and can be near-ultraviolet, visible or infrared. LEDs are good for displaying images because they can be relatively small, and they do not burn out. However, they require more power than LCDs.

Related Terms

LED: Light-Emitting Diode