LED- Stands for "Light-Emitting Diode.

" An LED is an electronic device that

emits light when an electrical current is passed through it.
(http://techterms.com/definition/led )(10-16-16)

Led- A light-emitting diode (LED) is a two-lead semiconductor light source. It is a pn

junction diode, which emits light when activated.( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light-
emitting_diode)

electronics
(LED) a type of diode that emits light when current passes through it.
Depending on the material used the colour can be visible or infrared. LEDs have
many uses, visible LEDs are used as indicator lights on all sorts of electronic
devices and in moving-message panels, while infrared LEDs are the heart of
remote control devices. (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/light-emitting-
diode)

Uses

Traffic signals
Street lights
TVs
Automotive lighting (i.e. brake lights)

Pros

Reliability: LEDs can (and usually do) last 3 to 5 times as long as

traditional bulbs (some are even expected to last 50 times as long).
Robust: Because LEDs are solid state (that is, not traditional tubes or
bulbs) they are far less likely to suffer failure from damage (think how
fragile a bulb is).

Size: They can be really, really small so the things they go inside of can
be smaller, too.
Efficiency: They don't use as much energy as traditional bulbs.

Cons
Cost: The upfront cost is significantly higher than traditional bulbs. Cost
has been coming down steadily and while it might never read parity with
 traditional bulbs, the fact they last so much longer likely makes up the
difference faster than ever.
Breadth of light: Simply put, they don't light up a room the way
traditional bulbs do. LED's light is more focused (this could be seen as a
plus, actually).

History

Early LEDs produced only red light, but modern LEDs can produce several
different colors, including red, green, and blue (RGB) light. Recent advances
in LED technology have made it possible for LEDs to produce white light as
well. (http://techterms.com/definition/led)
Early LEDs were often used as indicator lamps for electronic devices, replacing small
incandescent bulbs. They were soon packaged into numeric readouts in the form
of seven-segment displays, and were commonly seen in digital clocks.
Recent developments in LEDs permit them to be used in environmental and task
lighting. LEDs have many advantages over incandescent light sources including lower
energy consumption, longer lifetime, improved physical robustness, smaller size, and
faster switching. Light-emitting diodes are now used in applications as diverse
as aviation lighting, automotive headlamps, advertising, general lighting, traffic signals,
camera flashes and lighted wallpaper. As of 2016, LEDs powerful enough for room
lighting remain somewhat more expensive, and require more precise current and heat
management, than compact fluorescent lamp sources of comparable output. They are,
however, significantly more energy efficient and, arguably, have less environmental
concerns linked to their disposal[citation needed] . The governments of some countries are
promoting the domestic use of LED-based lighting, and in some cases providing LED-
based lighting solutions to the public at subsidized rates.
LEDs have allowed new displays and sensors to be developed, while their high
switching rates are also used in advanced communications technology.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light-emitting_diode)