An LED is a semiconductor electronic component that emits light. LED is an abbreviation for Light Emitting Diode. 

LED Lights contain no mercury or other toxins and emitt no harmful UV rays and less CO2 than standard incandenscent bulbs. LED's are a practical replacement for halogen or standard lights as they have a lower energy consumption, longer lifetime, improved brightness, smaller size, faster switching, and greater durability and reliability.

Until recently LED's have only been used for display type indicators in electrical devices such as TV's, calculators and clocks or as decorative lighting, as high brightness could not be achieved. Advancements in technology in recent years have opened up LED's to be used in a wide range of applications in commercial, industrial and domestic lighting.