LED

A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits incoherent narrow-spectrum light when electrically prejudiced in the forward direction of the p-n junction. This effect is a structure of electroluminescence. An LED is usually a small area source, often with extra optics added to the chip that shapes its energy pattern. The color of the emitted light depends on the composition and situation of the semi conducting material used, and can be infrared, noticeable, or near-ultraviolet.

LEDs produce more light per watt than do luminous bulbs; this is useful in battery powered or energy-saving devices. It can emit light of an proposed color without the use of color filters that traditional lighting methods require. This is more proficient and can lower initial costs. The solid put together of an LED can be designed to focus its light. Incandescent and fluorescent sources often need an external reflector to collect light and direct it in a usable manner. When used in applications where dimming is required, LEDs do not change their color tint as the current transient through them is lowered, unlike incandescent lamps, which turn yellow. They are ideal for use in applications that are subject to common on-off cycling, unlike fluorescent lamps that burn out more rapidly when cycled frequently, or HID lamps that require a long time before restarting.

Hardware

Hardware is a general term that refers to the physical artifacts of a technology. It may also mean the physical components of a computer system.

Hardware historically meant the metal parts and fittings that were used to make wooden products stronger, more functional, longer lasting and easier to fabricate or assemble. In modern usage it includes equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, corners, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts, especially when they are made of metal. In the United States, this type of hardware has been traditionally sold in hardware stores, a term also used to a lesser extent in the UK.

In the electronics and especially computer industries, computer hardware specifically means the physical or tangible parts of the equipment, such as circuit boards, keyboards, monitors etc., in contrast to non-physical software running on the computer or other device.

In a more colloquial sense, hardware can refer to major items of military equipment, such as tanks, aircraft or ships.