Lasers are optoelectronic devices that generate coherent, highly directional light through stimulated emission. They are typically built around a gain medium and an optical resonator, producing a controlled optical output with defined spectral and spatial characteristics.
Within the optoelectronics category, lasers are commonly classified by:
- Operating principle (e.g., semiconductor-based or other gain-medium technologies)
- Emission wavelength region (such as ultraviolet, visible, or infrared)
- Output format (continuous-wave or pulsed operation)
As a component class, lasers serve as light sources in systems that require precise optical generation and control, and they are often integrated with related optical and electronic elements for regulation, modulation, and monitoring.
