Lamps are light sources that emit incoherent light for illumination. There are many different types of products. Examples include fluorescent lamps, halogen lamps, heat lamps, incandescent lamps, LED lamps, projection lamps, spectral lamps, and stage lamps. Specialized and proprietary lamps are also available. 

Fluorescent lamps, halogen lamps, and heat lamps are three common types of lamps. Fluorescent lamps are high-efficiency lamps that use the electrical discharge of low-pressure mercury vapor to produce ultraviolet (UV) energy. The UV light is transformed into visible light. These common lamps than can be found in offices, homes, stores and street lights. Halogen lamps are high-pressure incandescent lamps that contain halogen gases such as iodine or bromine. These gases allow the filaments in halogen lamps to be operated at higher temperatures and efficacies. Heat lamps are also known as infrared emitters, infrared bulbs, infrared tubes, or infrared lamps. These lamps differ from illuminating lamps because of their low filament temperature, which results in less light and increased infrared (IR) radiation.

Lamps are light sources that emit incoherent light for illumination. There are many different types of products. Examples include fluorescent lamps, halogen lamps, heat lamps, incandescent lamps, LED lamps, projection lamps, spectral lamps, and stage lamps. Specialized and proprietary lamps are also available. 

Fluorescent lamps, halogen lamps, and heat lamps are three common types of lamps. Fluorescent lamps are high-efficiency lamps that use the electrical discharge of low-pressure mercury vapor to produce ultraviolet (UV) energy. The UV light is transformed into visible light. These common lamps than can be found in offices, homes, stores and street lights. Halogen lamps are high-pressure incandescent lamps that contain halogen gases such as iodine or bromine. These gases allow the filaments in halogen lamps to be operated at higher temperatures and efficacies. Heat lamps are also known as infrared emitters, infrared bulbs, infrared tubes, or infrared lamps. These lamps differ from illuminating lamps because of their low filament temperature, which results in less light and increased infrared (IR) radiation.

Incandescent lamps, LED lamps, and many other types of lamps are also available. Incandescent lamps generate light by passing electric currents through a thin filament wire until the wire is extremely hot. Light emitting diode (LED) lamps are arrays that contain traditional lamp ballasts. Other types of lamps include projection lamps, spectral lamps, and stage lamps. Projection lamps use a built-in reflector to concentrate light in a particular direction. These types of lamps are used in a variety of applications. Examples include slide projection, microfilm, overhead projectors, movies, medial and scientific instruments, and airport runways. Spectral lamps are lamps that radiate line spectra of various gases and metal vapors with high brightness and spectral purity. Stage lamps are typically used for stage, studio, or television lighting applications. 

Selecting lamps requires an analysis of specifications and features. Performance specifications include lamp power (wattage), bulb-burning lifespan, overall length of the lamp, color temperature of emitted light, and the average lamp output. Some lamps are available with additional features such as compact design, reflectors, shatterproof coating, twin tube filaments, and water-cooling. Additional features may be available through certain manufactures.