A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification b ased on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation.

The term "laser" o riginated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiat ion.[1][2] Lasers differ from other sources of light because they emit light coh erently. Its spatial coherence allows a laser to be focused to a tight spot, and this enables applications like laser cutting and laser lithography. Its spatial coherence also keeps a laser beam collimated over long distances, and this enab les laser pointers to work. Laser also have high temporal coherence which allows them to have a very narrow spectrum, i.e., they only emit a single color of lig ht. Their temporal coherence also allows them to emit pulses of light that only last a femtosecond.