LEDs have come a long way since they were first introduced as a practical component in 1962. While their use in lighting had been limited primarily to places such as instrument panels, they are now increasing being used in more general lighting. This is due to their efficiency, long life and other advantages over more traditional bulbs.

The basic workings of LED lighting
Instead of electricity flowing through a filament as in traditional bulbs, electrons flow across a semiconductor. In the process, they produce electromagnetic radiation. When this electromagnetic radiation is in the form of visible light, the process can be used in lighting.

LED light
The light emitted from LED bulbs is a whiter light that is closer to natural sunlight than more traditional bulbs. It is also highly directional and thus much better for lighting up a designated area such as a work place. However, they are less useful when one needs to light up an entire room. To overcome this, LED bulbs that emit a more scatted light have been developed.

Advantages of LED bulbs
LED bulbs have many advantages over incandescent bulbs. The most important is their efficiency. Traditional incandescent bulbs only have an efficiency of 5%-10% meaning 90% of their energy is lost, mainly as heat. Functioning practically as miniature heaters, they increase air conditioning costs also. On the other hand, with efficiencies of 80% or more for LED bulbs, most of the energy they consume becomes useful light rather than heat.

Another advantage is their durability. Being solid state and without filaments, they last far longer. For example, while an incandescent bulb can be expected to last around 5,000 hours, LEDs can be rated for 100,000 hours. Under the right conditions, they can thus last over two decades even if on for 50% of the time.

Not requiring color filters to produce colored light, they offer new opportunities for designers. By combining different colors of LEDs into a single bulb, they allow for different color spectrums in lighting. Their small size, lower heat, durability and flexibility all combine to create new possibilities in lighting. For example, they can be used on floors and closer to people in ways that are not practical with incandescent lighting.

Also, they do not contain mercury like compact florescent bulbs and are very environmentally friendly overall. Finally, they do not have the delay in reaching full brightness that is compact fluorescents have.

LED Flashlights
One area in which the advantages of LED lighting is especially apparent is in flashlights. Flashlights often take more shocks, and the power source must be carried. This makes their durability, efficiency and highly directional lighting especially attractive and a reason anyone looking for a flashlight should consider what makes LEDs best.

Drawbacks of LEDs
LED lighting is not without its drawbacks though. The main one is cost. Prices are coming down, but they still cost more than other types of bulbs. It takes some time and bulb replacements to recoup the larger initial investment.

Also, their brightness is still limited. They work best in situations where less light is required and where the highly directional nature of the light they produce is a plus rather than a minus.

Finally, they require more precise temperature and current management.

As the technology advances and their popularity increases, LED bulbs are likely to decrease in price while they grow in practicality. They are likely to be an increasingly popular choice in the future at the expense of other types of lighting. Unless a better technology comes along, they could very well dominate lighting in the future.